NH Part 1: Whose Liberty? Granite State Abortion Ban

Red Cloaks Radio

Listen in as Liz and Kayla from Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (www.ppnhaf.org) talk us through the origin and impacts of the recently implemented state-wide abortion ban. The ban criminalizes providers. This ban and other restrictive legislation are in conflict with traditional Granite State values. Residents in the state have taken pride in the motto "live free or die." Now, they question how a shift in the legislature yields laws that violate patient privacy and diminish personal freedom. April 29, 2022 update: This interview took place when advocates hoped House Bill 1609 might reduce the harms of the abortion ban by allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest or fatal fetal anomaly. However, while 1609 made some progress, it was only on the matter of fatal fetal anomalies. The abortion ban remains without any exceptions for people who were forcibly made pregnant because they were raped or the victims of incest. Advocates ask for people to help by: contacting their NH legislators. Reaching out to friends, family, co-workers in NH to alert them to the abortion ban, as well as other restrictive measures. Consider donating to organizations who advocate for reproductive freedom, reproductive health, and reproductive justice. House Bill 1080 would make it more difficult to access contraception because it would allow people who "don't believe in contraception" due to their personal religion to refuse to sell someone contraceptives - this includes items traditionally purchased out in the open, like condoms. House Bill 1625 would make it more difficult for patients to access reproductive healthcare because it would repeal the NH Buffer Zone law. The buffer law keeps some space clear around clinics and healthcare facilities so that patients can come and go privately and without being verbally harassed by strangers. House Bill 1609 is an effort to lesson the harms of the New Hampshire abortion harms, but reproductive healthcare advocates do not believe it goes far enough. It would be better to allow all pregnant people to access abortioncare, and there should always be access for people who are victims of rape or incest.