Proposed abortion ban being considered by London City Council

London City Council members want to hear from their constituents about a proposed law that would ban abortion clinics and abortion-inducing drugs.

Similar legislation was just approved in Mason, and in May was approved in Lebanon, both cities in Warren County in southwestern Ohio.

Other Ohio cities have considered the proposed abortion ban law, dubbed "sanctuary city for the unborn" legislation, including Celina, in Mercer County.

London's ordinance has been referred to the public safety and finance committees and scheduled for hearings on Nov. 8 and 9, said Councilman Anthony Smith, a senior pastor at Revive Baptist Church who is sponsoring the proposed law.

Ohio abortion ban:Mason council passes ordinance criminalizing abortions in city limits after tense meeting, close vote

The law would ban abortion clinics and dispensing, and use, of drugs to end a pregnancy.

In Ohio, RU-486, or Mifepristone, is the predominant medication used to end pregnancies that are less than 10 weeks along. By Ohio law, it can be dispensed only by doctors.

What the proposed abortion legislation says

The proposed legislation would make illegal for anyone to assist a woman who seeks an abortion, including providing transportation to or from an abortion provider; to give instructions regarding self-administered abortion; to provide money for an abortion, and bans "coercing" a pregnant mother to have an abortion against her will. Some of those prohibitions are similar to that contained in a law recently passed in Texas, except it does not offer "bounty" payments to citizens who report violators.

Smith said the London law is not intended to prosecute or punish women who might use abortion-inducing drugs.

London has no abortion clinics, which would make the legislation more of a future roadblock for practices desiring to locate there, said Smith.

"I kind of realized that by not having an abortion clinic in London, it makes it easier to pass and to enforce," he said. "There is no constitutional right to operate an abortion clinic."

Smith said he was motivated by other cities and his pro-life stance, grounded in his faith and what he describes as scientific evidence of when life begins.

"For me, it's about people having lunch in our city, and not having to worry about babies being murdered in our town," he said.

Smith said he believes that the vast majority of the city's 10,000-plus residents and members of council agree.

Council member Carla Blazier isn't so sure.

As a paramedic for 42 years, Blazier, 62, and now retired, is wrestling with the issue and whether such a law might spawn lawsuits, boycotts of businesses and demonstrations if passed.

"How could this affect our finances for the city if you put yourself in a position where you could have legal action against you?"

Blazier, who is a sexual assault examiner at Madison Health hospital in the city, said she doesn't think abortion should be used "as a form of birth control."

"Do I have the right to take away their choice?" Blazier said. She said she could understand supporting abortion for rape or incest victims.

"What if somebody is sexually assaulted, especially a child?"

Smith said there have been no legal challenges in Ohio and he doesn't expect any.

"As the movement starts in small towns and moves to the states and then beyond, I want to be a part of it," he said of efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that makes abortion legal nationwide.

ACLU of Ohio sees alarming trend of eliminating a woman's right

The ACLU of Ohio said there is an alarming trend toward eliminating a woman's right to choose that is "catching on like wildfire."

The Ohio Right to Life Society did not return calls in time for publication.

The earliest a vote could take place would be Nov. 18, although Blazier and Smith said they expect the council to make a decision on Dec. 2, after a full three readings and the opportunity for residents to comment.

At an Oct. 6 council meeting, the first reading of the ordinance, about two dozen people, most of them residents, voiced their support for the measure. The group had met earlier to demonstrate.

London's 10,000-plus residents have conservative values, officials there say.

"I don't think it will benefit the economy or hurt the economy, because I don't think businesses are going to come to London or leave London for these reasons," said. Smith.

"I think in our area, that there will be more embarrassment if we did not pass it, because our city council is predominantly Republican and London is very pro-life," he said.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso