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Commentary: How Democrats could use the lame duck to save medication abortions

By Erwin Chemerinsky

Commentary: How Democrats could use the lame duck to save medication abortions

Erwin Chemerinsky and Miles Mogulescu - Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Before Democrats lose the White House and the Senate, they should push through legislation to repeal the Comstock Act, which could be used to prevent legal medically induced abortions everywhere in the United States. Given the success of ballot initiatives that protect the right to abortion in even conservative states in last month's election, the politics could be right to repeal that 1873 law.

The Comstock Act was adopted to prohibit the interstate shipment of obscene materials. The law also outlawed the shipment of anything meant to prevent conception or end pregnancy.

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