NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Last Sunday marked the second anniversary of Tennessee banning abortions unless they were done to prevent serious injury or death to the mother. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling in 2022, states now decide their own abortion laws. Tennessee reacted quickly after the ruling. About two months later, state lawmakers passed some of the strictest abortion restrictions in the country.
“Last year alone, over 10,000 women left the state to receive maternity care,” said Emily Cupples, director of the Tennessee Freedom Circle, a pro-choice organization. The nonprofit’s website says it is “dedicated to advancing reproductive freedom through a comprehensive approach that includes legal expertise, legislative advocacy and public education.” The Tennessee Freedom Circle released a lobbying video this weekend to share the impact of the decision 24 months later.
“For the first time in 50 years, abortion is no longer legal in the state of Tennessee,” the video’s introduction states.
Cupples said it is the first in a series of videos the organization plans to release this election cycle to educate voters about our state’s current abortion laws and their impact on Tennesseans.
Since Tennessee passed a so-called trigger law or ban after overturning Roe v. Wade, Cupples says abortion clinics have been closing across the state. Now, Cupples says doctors are leaving the clinics as well.
“We’ve seen a 5% drop in applications to medical school in the state of Tennessee because the laws are so restrictive,” Cupples said. “People don’t want to come here to train and practice because they’re afraid of legal and financial consequences.”
But Republicans have often continued to support states in getting the abortion issue under control.
“I don’t think there’s a real chance of a nationwide ban or nationwide approval of abortion,” said conservative radio host Steve Gil.
“The issue of abortion is currently up for vote in a number of states. We will increasingly see people in their state decide what abortion restrictions should look like. Should abortion take place shortly after pregnancy? Should it take place shortly before or shortly after birth?”
A 2022 Vanderbilt University poll found that 80% of Tennessee residents support abortion under certain circumstances. The most common reasons are rape, incest, fatal problems in the fetus, or preventing serious injury or death to the mother.
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said former President Donald Trump would not support a federal abortion ban and would veto it if elected. Trump said the decision should be up to the states.
