In a Post-Roe era, New Mexico joined forces with other states in ensuring a woman’s right to choose. On Tuesday, March 7, the state Senate approved by a 23-15 vote the passage of House Bill 7. The bill, Reproductive & Gender-Affirming Health Care, was sponsored by Reps. Linda Serrato (D-45), Charlotte Little (D-68), Kristina Ortez (D-42), Reena Szczepanski (D-47), and Janelle Anyanonu (D-19). Section 3, part B of the bill states “A public body or agent of a public body shall not, directly or indirectly, deny, restrict or interfere with a person’s ability to access or provide reproductive health care or gender-affirming health care within the medical standard of care.”

The bill adds teeth to attorney general Raul Torrez’s lawsuit filed against Lea and Roosevelt counties, and the cities of Hobbs, and Clovis for ordinances restricting abortion procedures within their jurisdictions.

This bill would put to rest the attempt of the above counties and cities (including Eunice New Mexico) to restrict abortion procedures by prohibiting local governments from blocking access to reproductive health care, which includes birth control and abortion. 

As Senator Kathy Duhigg stated, “Your ability to access lifesaving health care is really limited by your ZIP code right now.”

Senator Duhigg is correct. Our nation is already fractured by an issue that should not be a political battle cry but rather a woman’s individual right. As Roe vs. Wade crumbles, conservative states have focused on criminalizing abortion, and some have gone full “scorched-earth” by calling for the execution of women who have abortions. 

For example, the Texas state legislature debated a provision last year that wouldn’t just outlaw abortion, but qualify it as homicide and leave women and physicians who perform the procedure to face criminal charges that could carry the death penalty. More recently South Carolina introduced the South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023, which would make getting an abortion the same as committing a homicide. 

For “pro-life” advocates to suggest the death penalty for those who obtain or perform abortions is quite ironic, but gives us a clear view of the intent: The suppression of women’s rights. “Pro-lifers” argue about the life of the child, yet in the same breath, complain about the evils of big government, vaccine mandates, masks, and the right to bear arms. 

Women will always need access to abortion, regardless of legislation and laws. Pre-Roe, abortion restrictions meant that many women, needing to end their pregnancies, would often undergo unsafe procedures, many of which were fatal. As recently as the 1940s, more than 1,000 women died each year in the United States from unsafe abortion. Women of color and women living in poverty with little or no access to safe abortion care were disproportionately impacted. 

Before Roe vs Wade, thousands of women died as a result of abortion bans simply because they were refused care. History has shown that restrictive abortion laws do nothing but force women to turn to unsafe and often deadly methods. In the 1940s, more than 1,000 women died each year in the US from unsafe abortion, with the poor and minorities disproportionately impacted. 

Regardless of your personal, religious, or political views, no government should have a say over a woman’s body and the right to choose.