In 2019 when the Alabama Legislature passed the Human Life Protection Act, one of the stated intentions of the law was to challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision by making a legal case for personhood in the womb.
However, with this year's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling overturning Roe, the Human Life Protection Act, previously under a federal court injunction, went into effect without consideration of some unintended consequences, including vague language about inchoate offenses and abortion medication.
During an appearance on Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show," State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who is an attorney, said the legislature would have to take a "second look" at the law.
"[T]here's going to have to be, based on the concerns voiced by the legal community, a second look at the law that was passed back in 2019," Orr said.
However, Orr said it would be up to constituents to express their concerns with the law and if there was a need for any modifications.
"Legislators, like anyone in government that is elected, certainly need to be listening to the people they represent," Orr said. "The issues it has since the ruling, start bubbling up. It's incumbent on anyone in elected office to listen to the people, in the legislative context, to people from their district and see what the public is saying. Do they want modifications? Do they want the law as is? Are they for particular nuances or against in the legislation?
"That's where we have people elected who represent the people. That's where I think most legislators will be. We've got a lot of new incoming legislators who weren't around in 2019. I don't know, certainly, where they land or where their districts are on this particular issue. So, a lot to be fleshed out in the coming months. And all in between that is an election in November to finally impanel the legislature for the next quadrennium."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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