From Bans to Criminal Charges—The Next Phase of Abortion Crackdowns
Oklahoma’s failed bill is just one piece of a growing legal strategy.
The anti-abortion movement has entered a terrifying new phase—one that doesn’t just ban the procedure but seeks to prosecute the pregnant people who obtain abortions and those who help them.
In February 2025, Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers introduced Senate Bill 456, a sweeping measure that sought to classify abortion as homicide under state law. If passed, SB 456 would have allowed for the prosecution of pregnant individuals themselves, not just abortion providers.
Even though the bill failed in committee, its introduction signals a radical shift in anti-abortion strategy. While previous laws targeted clinics and doctors, SB 456 made it clear that the ultimate goal is to criminalize abortion seekers themselves.
And Oklahoma isn’t alone. Across the country, Republican lawmakers are adopting a new legal framework to trap pregnant people—by using “trafficking” language to criminalize those who help them travel for care.
In states like Idaho, Texas, and Tennessee, lawmakers are rebranding abortion access as a form of "trafficking"—a direct attack on interstate travel rights and reproductive freedom. If successful, this could turn anyone who helps a person get an abortion into a criminal—whether it’s a friend, a parent, or even an Uber driver.
The question now is: Was SB 456 just the beginning? Or are we about to see an even more dangerous legal crackdown?
The Coffman Chronicle is powered by YOU—no billionaires, no corporate overlords. Help us expose the BS, deliver sharp insights, and keep you informed.
You can fuel the fight and join the movement for just $8 a month or $80 a year.
Not ready to subscribe? No worries, chaos loves company, and you're always welcome.
SB 456: Oklahoma’s First Attempt to Criminalize Pregnant People
Oklahoma already has some of the harshest abortion restrictions in the country. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, the state has banned nearly all abortion procedures, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Yet, despite these extreme laws, an estimated 3,274 abortions still occur in Oklahoma each year—mostly through self-managed medication abortions.
For State Senator Dusty Deevers and his allies, these numbers were a problem. His solution? Punish the pregnant people themselves.
If passed, SB 456 would have:
Reclassified abortion as homicide, making it a crime under Oklahoma’s existing murder statutes.
Allowed the state to prosecute individuals who self-administer abortion pills—a clear escalation from previous laws targeting only providers.
Potentially subjected those who obtain abortions to life in prison or even the death penalty.
Even within Oklahoma’s Republican-controlled legislature, this proved too extreme. The Senate Judiciary Committee rejected it in a bipartisan 6-2 vote, highlighting an internal divide within the GOP:
Some Republicans fear political backlash. Since Roe was overturned, abortion bans have been defeated in Kansas, Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan.
Others, like Deevers, believe abortion bans don’t go far enough. His bill reflects a growing faction that wants total abortion abolition, even if it means prosecuting pregnant people themselves.
SB 456 may have failed, but the movement behind it is gaining momentum, and it’s expanding its reach beyond Oklahoma.
The Rise of “Abortion Trafficking” Laws
Even in states where abortion is illegal, anti-choice lawmakers are finding new ways to criminalize abortion seekers and those who help them. One of their latest strategies? Rebranding abortion travel as “trafficking.”
Idaho became the first state to pass an “abortion trafficking” law in 2023, making it illegal for an adult to help a minor cross state lines for an abortion without parental consent—even if abortion is legal in the destination state.
Texas lawmakers have proposed a similar measure, allowing civil lawsuits against people who drive someone out of state for an abortion.
Tennessee is considering a bill that would expand human trafficking laws to include abortion access, meaning clinics, activists, and even family members could be investigated.
These laws directly attack the right to travel—a fundamental constitutional right that courts have long upheld. If they hold up in court, they could:
Criminalize parents, friends, or activists who help pregnant people seek legal care elsewhere.
Make it impossible for abortion funds to operate, cutting off support for those who can’t afford to travel.
Create a surveillance state where pregnant people are tracked and investigated for attempting to cross state lines.
It’s a chilling escalation in the post-Roe era: abortion is being reframed not just as a crime but as a form of human trafficking.
Christian Nationalism and the Criminalization of Pregnancy
The driving force behind these laws isn’t just traditional conservatism; it’s Christian nationalism, an extremist ideology that seeks to govern based on biblical law rather than secular principles.
This movement sees abortion as murder, and its supporters believe that banning it is not just a legal issue but a moral crusade. That’s why figures like Dusty Deevers and his allies are demanding complete criminalization, even at the cost of massive political backlash.
But the implications of their policies go beyond abortion itself. If these laws continue to spread, we could soon see:
Women who miscarry investigated for homicide.
Survivors of rape and incest being forced to carry pregnancies—or face prosecution.
Doctors too afraid to treat medical emergencies for fear of legal consequences.
In some states, this is already a reality. This is the future the abortion abolitionist movement envisions nationwide. And it’s already being tested in states like Oklahoma, Idaho, and Texas.
What Comes Next?
Oklahoma’s SB 456 failed—for now. But the movement behind it isn’t going away.
We should expect similar bills to be reintroduced in Oklahoma and other deep-red states.
More states will attempt to use “trafficking” laws to trap pregnant people and criminalize out-of-state abortion travel.
Legal challenges will emerge, forcing courts to decide whether states can prosecute people for actions taken in places where abortion is legal.
The anti-choice movement isn’t satisfied with banning abortion in red states. Their goal is total criminalization, nationwide.
Are we willing to let an extreme conservative movement return our rights to a bygone century?
Bibliography
The Guardian – 'Abortion Homicide' Bills Introduced in Republican States
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/23/abortion-homicide-billsKOSU – Oklahoma’s ‘Abolition of Abortion Act’ Fails in Senate Judiciary Committee
https://www.kosu.org/politics/2025-02-20/abolition-of-abortion-act-fails-in-oklahoma-senate-judiciary-committeeThe Oklahoman - Oklahoma Legislative Session 2025: Dusty Deevers' Anti-Abortion Bill Fails in Bipartisan Vote https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/21/oklahoma-legislative-session-2025-dusty-deever-bills-fail-bipartisan/79307802007/
The Idaho Statesman - Idaho Passes First 'Abortion Trafficking' Law in the Nation https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article273942720.html
Women will start to die now. How cruel they have shown to be.