Oklahoma state Rep. Jim Olsen (R) has drawn the ire of Democrats for comparing the evils of abortion and slavery.
On Wednesday, a state House committee approved S.B. 612, which, if signed into law, would essentially outlaw abortion entirely, according to KOCO-TV. It would make abortions in non-life-threatening situations a felony offense that could result in a fine of up to $100,000 or up to 10 years behind bars.
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The local news outlet reported that, during debate on the legislation, Olsen drew a comparison between the moral fights to end slavery in Great Britain and efforts today to abolish abortion.
Olsen said the fight against abortion is “a cause of even greater import because it deals with innocent unborn life.”
State Rep. Ajay Pittman (D) pushed back against his Republican colleague’s comments, asking, “So, to clarify what you just said, are you saying saving lives is more important than slavery? And saving those lives?”
“The context that I was addressing that — none of us would like to be killed,” Olsen replied. “None of us would like to be a slave. If I had my choice, I guess, I’d be a slave. At least a slave has his life. Once your life is gone, it’s gone.”
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“And I’m not minimalizing slavery,” he continued. “I’m illustrating the terrible injustice that was finally, finally erased from Great Britain and almost eventually the entire world.”
Pittman said later she was “shocked and appalled” by Olsen’s words, which the Democrat said were “triggering” and “traumatizing” and “hurtful.”
“To compare a dying baby or a baby not being born — an unborn child — to a slave, that is disheartening,” she said. “And that says that we are continuing to move backwards in the state of Oklahoma.”
The Republican lawmaker, though, is not backing down.
“In the context of history in general,” he said, “I did compare one evil to another and, very frankly, I make no apology for it.”
And in a separate statement to reporters, according to the Associated Press, Olsen said he made “a very historically appropriate analogy,” adding, “I never spoke positively of slavery. One evil at one time was acceptable in our society, and now it’s not. I look forward to the time when we stop killing babies.”
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