Tennessee Republicans Seeks Death Penalty for Women Who Have Abortions— 'Homicide of Unborn Child'

Tennessee considers a bill that could impose the death penalty on women who have abortions, sparking outrage and debate across the state.

Two Republican lawmakers are pushing to allow the death penalty for women who undergo abortions. The proposed amendment, linked to House Bill 570 and Senate Bill 738, aims to treat fetal homicide as 'murder,' with penalties including life imprisonment, life without parole, and potentially, the death penalty.

The bill remains in committee and has yet to be scheduled for a vote.

The legislation would remove existing protections for pregnant women. It would equate harm done to an unborn child with assault on a person 'born alive,' effectively criminalising almost all abortions.

The bill explicitly excludes spontaneous miscarriages and unintentional deaths after medical procedures aimed at saving the mother's or infant's life. However, other exceptions remain vague. Prosecutions for women involved in illegal abortions could potentially be retroactive, though the bill currently prohibits such prosecutions before it becomes law.

If approved, the bill would take effect from July 1 this year.

'To save the life of the unborn child'

Support for the bill comes from unexpected corners.

Clint Pressley, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, endorsed it publicly.

'I am glad to support HB 570 and SB 738, two bills in the Tennessee legislature that would protect every preborn child in Tennessee from abortion by providing preborn children with equal protection of the laws,' he wrote on X, adding, 'By protecting the lives of preborn children with the same laws that protect people who are born, we are simply loving our neighbors in the womb as ourselves.'

Pressley's stance highlights a divide within religious communities.

The Southern Baptist Convention has seen internal debates over abortion policies. Just two years ago, some leaders opposed measures that criminalised women entirely. Now, some, like Pressley, see harsher restrictions as a moral imperative.

Rep. Jody Barrett, one of the bill's sponsors, expressed gratitude for the support. The Foundation to Abolish Abortion also backs the legislation. They argue it upholds the dignity of life from conception to natural death, citing statistics that suggest 5,000 of abortions are carried out via telehealth and 10,000 in out-of-state providers.

Their official stance states, 'Under this legislation, murdering anyone would be made illegal for everyone, ensuring that all humans made in the image of God are equally protected.'

They believe this aligns with both constitutional principles and religious teachings.

A state with some of the strictest laws

Tennessee's anti-abortion laws have become among the strictest nationwide. The Human Life Protection Act, enacted in 2022, bans all abortions from fertilisation.

Exceptions are limited to ectopic and molar pregnancies, with no allowance for cases involving rape, incest, or fatal fetal diagnoses. Performing an abortion is classified as a Class C felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The state has also targeted access to abortion pills. It's illegal to mail them or assist minors in traveling out of state for procedures without parental consent. Schools are required to show videos on fetal development. Efforts to reinforce contraception and IVF rights have faced hurdles, with some bills narrowly passing and others pending.

Political voices and rising tensions

Supporters of the bill see it as a moral duty. Rep. Monty Fritts, a co-sponsor and gubernatorial hopeful, has openly advocated for the death penalty for women who get abortions.

'Murder is murder. I know that's hard for people to hear, and I don't mean to be hard with it, I promise,' he declared, comparing abortion-inducing pills to 'a cyanide capsule,' and arguing that a tiny, developing human should be recognised as a person.

Fritts's stance has drawn criticism. Many see it as extreme and harmful.

The idea of punishing women with the death penalty over their reproductive choices has alarmed advocates, healthcare providers, and civil rights groups.