Louisiana’s Democratic gov. signs pro-life law criminalizing mail-order abortion pills

Gov. Bel Edwards also signed a bill strengthening the state’s abortion ‘trigger’ ban.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has signed bills that make mailing abortion pills a state crime and strengthen Louisiana’s existing “trigger” law that will ban nearly all abortions if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.

On Tuesday, Edwards signed Senate Bill 388, which will criminalize mail-ordered “abortion-inducing drug(s)” beginning August 1, as reported by the Daily Wire.

SB 388 will “prohibit criminal abortion by means of the use of an abortion inducing drug without the prescribing physician being physically present during the administration of the drug.”

The bill permits forms of emergency contraception, including abortifacients. Those who fail to comply with this law can face a $1,000 fine and a maximum of six months in prison. However, pregnant women will not be prosecuted under this law.

While Louisiana had previously required women to take abortion pills in a doctor’s office, it was not a criminal offense to mail abortion pills.

According to a Guttmacher Institute report, in 2020, abortion pills became the leading cause of abortion, causing 54% of abortions. In America, abortion pills have become increasingly available, despite serious health risks. During COVID-19 lockdowns, Planned Parenthood mailed abortion pills to women who could ingest them without any medical oversight.   

On Tuesday, Edwards also signed Senate Bill 342, increasing the punishments for the state’s trigger law, which will take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned. This bill was promptly criticized by the pro-abortion Biden White House.