By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A bill in the Missouri House would make it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion.
Under the bill, coercion would include physically harming a pregnant woman, kicking her out of her home, or even divorcing her, among other things.
The bill is sponsored by State Representative Bob Onder (R, Lake St. Louis).
"It could be a threat, 'get an abortion, or I will kill you'... 'get an abortion, or you will lose your job'...there are cases of that threat being made," Onder said.
Michelle Trupiano, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood in Missouri, believes the bill could infringe on free speech rights.
"Even if a woman freely consents to that abortion and says, 'yes, my husband's filing for divorce and that's one of the reasons that led me here today,' she cannot have the abortion...it would be illegal," Trupiano said.
Coercing a woman into having an abortion would be a misdemeanor. But if another crime is committed at the same time, the coercion would turn into a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to $10,000, or both.
The bill would also strengthen Missouri's informed consent law by requiring a woman be offered an ultrasound or other information about pregnancy 24 hours before a scheduled abortion.