Less than a month ago, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the “buffer zone” that kept protesters 35 feet away from abortion clinic entrances violated First Amendment protections. Since then state lawmakers have scrambled to install a suitable replacement, and on Wednesday the Senate passed a bill that would essentially create another boundary … sometimes … sort of. The new law would essentially allow police to order anyone who is part of a group (i.e.: two or more people) and who poses a threat to stand 25 feet away from a clinic entrance for up to eight hours. So basically, if you’re naughty, you go to the no-no zone.
This bill feels strange, and much worse than the original buffer zone. It aims to be more precise, to place restrictions only on those who are there to cause the most trouble. But it also places the power of that distinction in the hands of police. What happens when the cops are pro-choice? What happens when a patient feels harassed and the cops don’t agree?
It’s great that lawmakers are rushing fill the gap in protections left by the SCOTUS ruling. Unfortunately, considering that the legislative session ends next week, it’s probably the best we’ll get anytime soon.
FURTHER READING
FREE RADICAL: THE LINE WILL NOT SAVE US
SCOTUS DECISION MARKS END OF CURRENT MASS BUFFER ZONE, NOT CIVIL RIGHTS
