(10-29-21) Mason (Ohio) City Council passed an ordinance to not allow abortions in the city by one vote, 4-3 this past week. It failed to pass as an emergency, meaning it won’t go into effect for 30 days..

The ordinance makes it illegal to knowingly “aid or abet” an abortion that occurs in Mason. Violating the ordinance is a first-degree misdemeanor, which is punishable with up to 180 days in jail or a fine of up to $1,000, according to Ohio law.

The Mason City Council got the ordinance draft from Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, an initiative by Right to Life of East Texas.

The ordinance also makes it illegal for people to possess or distribute “abortion-inducing drugs” in the city of Mason, including misoprostol and mifepristone. Misoprostol and mifepristone require a prescription and are administered in some doctor’s offices, abortion clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers.

Click to access Agenda-10-25-21.pdf

The Mason ban drew the attention of several U.S. Senate candidates. Republican Josh Mandel made an appearances at city hall –

Democratic candidate Tim Ryan said in a Facebook posting – Senator

In a statement by Kersha Deibel, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, said the Mason ban was outside the council’s authority:

“now opened up the city of Mason to public ridicule, promised boycotts and costly litigation.”

London, a city of 10,300 in Madison County, sent a similar ordinance to committee before it will be heard by the city council. 

Click to access e2fd85_386255cbef6f47efbbca7e21bc4b20f6.pdf

On Monday night the Celina City Council members in the first reading of the ordinance voted it down 4-2. The ordinance will again be considered in a 2nd reading at the next council meeting.

Earlier this year the City of Lebanon voted and passed the abortion law into effect.

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