Lone Miss. abortion clinic fights limiting law
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi’s only abortion clinic sued Wednesday to stop a law that it says will effectively ban abortion in the state and endanger women’s health by limiting access to the procedure.
Jackson Women’s Health Organization said in the federal lawsuit that the measure would close the clinic, is unconstitutional and would ban abortion in Mississippi “by imposing medically unjustified requirements on physicians who perform abortions.”
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant has said his goal is to eliminate abortions in the state, and on Wednesday he said “Mississippi stands ready to vigorously defend House Bill 1390,” the new law.
When he signed the bill, Bryant responded to what effect the law could have on the state’s only abortion clinic by saying, “If it closes that clinic, then so be it.”
The law takes effect Sunday, but the clinic is asking a federal judge in Jackson to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the state from enforcing it.
AP
6/27/12
Magnolia Tribune
