Member-only story
New York Shield Law Could Be the Canary in the Coal Mine
When the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled three years ago to overturn the 1973 Roe versus Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, the political right naturally championed it yet also downplayed its significance by claiming the court was only “returning it to the states”.
No big deal, right? “States’ rights”.
As long as a woman did not attempt to seek an abortion in a state in which it was now banned, everything would be fine. Let some states keep their pro-choice laws on the books. Leave each other alone.
While GOP lawmakers and so-called “Christian” activists continued trotting out this talking point, state legislatures and attorneys general were busy spreading their web to catch would-be malefactors in other states and localities seeking abortion care.
Almost two years ago, 19 state AGs were talking about enacting a 21st-century version of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act to pursue across state lines transgender individuals and those who either have had or are seeking abortions.
Fast forward to today, and attorneys general in anti-abortion states are trying to stretch the long arm of the law into pro-choice ones.
Last month, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an arrest warrant and Texas State District…
