Ohio city votes to outlaw abortions, become 'sanctuary city for the unborn'
MASON, Ohio (WKRC) — Mason, Ohio is now the 41st city in the country to become a "sanctuary city for the unborn."
City leaders took a major vote to outlaw abortions Monday night. Four of seven members of the city council voted to enact the ordinance, which will go into effect in 30 days. There were not enough votes to put it on the ballot to let voters decide.
The ordinance makes it a crime to perform or help anyone get an abortion in the city. It also makes it illegal to have or distribute abortion-inducing drugs in Mason.
There would be no exceptions for rape or incest. The only exception would be if the pregnancy is threatening the mother’s health.
Violators could face up to one year in jail and be fined up to $2,500.
Pregnant women who seek or go through with an abortion would not be prosecuted.
“The decisions about keeping or not a child are very deeply personal and it shouldn’t. My question when I’m in the conversation with a doctor should not be, 'What does city council think?'” said Joy Bennett, a resident of Mason who was against the ordinance.
I think the people have made it clear that this is what they want. You know, we can’t control what happens in other cities. Mason gets to decide for itself what it wants to do in the life issue, and with this vote, the city of Mason will be taking a stand and saying, 'We are not gonna let the violence of abortion be perpetuated in our city,'” said Allie Frazier with Ohio Right to Life.
As it stands, there are no abortion clinics in Mason.
People against the ordinance, including a member of the city council, expect this will invite legal challenges.
Mason is now the second city in Ohio to ban abortions after Lebanon passed a similar law in May.
