Oklahoma House approves resolution that considers abortion as murder

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a resolution that declares abortions as murder and calls on state officials to prevent the procedure from being carried out.

State House Resolution 1004, authored by state Rep. Chuck Strohm, was passed in a voice vote on Monday without debate or discussion. The measure only serves as a statement and holds no force of law, but Strohm considered it as a "landmark resolution."

"It calls upon our Attorney General, governor, judiciary, elected officials, to enforce Oklahoma law," the Republican lawmaker said, as reported by The Stream.

The resolution also claims that the U.S. Supreme Court violated the Constitution in cases like Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which legalized abortion nationwide.

"Does the Supreme Court have the right to violate every act of decency and law by imposing — no, not by imposing, but by forcing — the murder of unborn children on our society?" Strohm asked before the House on Monday.

"I will uphold this truth that the answer is no. No one — not a doctor, father, judge, or mother — has rights that allow them to murder an unborn child," he added.

The measure states that "all human life is protected by God's law," while noting that the Constitution mandates that "no state shall deprive any human being of life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness without due process of law."

It also directs Oklahoma judges and Oklahoma Supreme Court justices not to interfere with the legislature's "right to clarify Oklahoma criminal law regarding abortion," according to Fox 25.

The Hill noted that Oklahoma has already implemented strict laws limiting abortions. The state bans abortions after 20 weeks unless the woman's life is at risk. Parents of minors who are seeking abortions must be notified before the procedure is carried out.

Abortions are only covered by health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act only if the mother's life is in danger. The state also requires women seeking an abortion to undergo counseling and wait 72 hours before the procedure.

Oklahoma has been placed on the top of the Americans United for Life's (AUL) 2017 Life List. It was the state's second year in a row to land on the pro-life list.