Shannon Watts was a stay-at-home mom and communications executive until the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school happened. Horrified by the event, she started the group Moms Demand Action in an effort to push Americans to do more to stop gun violence. In the lead-up to Alabama signing into law the most restrictive abortion ban in the country, Watts took to Twitter and waded into the abortion debate and went viral as a result.
This Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law HB 314, which could punish doctors who a perform an abortion with life in prison.
“Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, a bill that was approved by overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Legislature,” Ivey, who is a Republican, said in a statement. “To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God.”
One day before the bill was signed, Watts posted a rhetorical question to Twitter that has since blown up and gone viral.
How come the same lawmakers who say gun laws won't stop gun violence believe abortion laws will stop abortion? https://t.co/7E6u31VRCO
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 15, 2019
“How come the same lawmakers who say gun laws won’t stop gun violence believe abortion laws will stop abortion?” she wrote while retweeting feminist writer Jessica Valenti.
The responses rolled in, and most of them centered around the same theme: It’s about controlling women’s bodies.
“I always think – why the hell are the “anti choicers” not focusing on contraception – it is so obvious that access to contraception along with education will do more to lower the number of abortions than these backwards laws will,” replied Twitter user Molly Greece.
According to Twitter user Jennifer K, “the cruelty is the point.”
“Because the cruelty is the point, and they’re not actually trying to stop abortions, they’re trying to control reproduction – who, when, with whom, how often – and specifically focusing on people of color,” she wrote.
“Could it be … I mean, just maybe … (whispers) it’s not really about abortion and being pro-life?” Jolie Lindley tweeted.
Mark Maloof compared the new law to Sharia.
“Remember when Republicans were yappin about ‘Sharia Law’? Well it looks like they were projecting. This is: American style ‘Sharia Law’!”
In her statement, Gov. Ivey noted that the new law may not be enforceable thanks to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states.
“The sponsors of this bill believe that it is time, once again, for the U.S.,” Ivey wrote. “Supreme Court to revisit this important matter, and they believe this act may bring about the best opportunity for this to occur.”
Featured image: Governor Kay Ivey/Twitter
