Austin pushing to effectively decriminalize abortion ahead of ruling on Roe

[Elderberry]

Politico By Megan Messerly 5/30/2022

The state’s so-called trigger law, which would take effect 30 days after a Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe, includes the nation’s harshest criminal penalties on abortion.

The city of Austin is attempting to shield its residents from prosecution under a Texas law that would criminalize almost all abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned — the first push by a major city in a red state to try to circumvent state abortion policy.

Councilmember Chito Vela is proposing a resolution that would direct the city’s police department to make criminal enforcement, arrest and investigation of abortions its lowest priority and restrict city funds and city staff from being used to investigate, catalogue or report suspected abortions.

“This is not an academic conversation. This is a very real conversation where people’s lives could be destroyed by these criminal prosecutions,” said Vela, who shared the details of the resolution first with POLITICO. “In Texas, you’re an adult at 17. We are looking at the prospect of a 17-year-old girl who has an unplanned pregnancy and is seeking an abortion [being] subjected to first-degree felony charges — up to 99 years in jail — and that’s just absolutely unacceptable.”

The state’s so-called trigger law, which would take effect 30 days after a Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe, includes the nation’s harshest criminal penalties on abortion and language vague enough that abortion-rights proponents believe it will not only be used to go after abortion providers but also criminalize people who end their own pregnancies with abortion pills. Last month, 26-year-old Lizelle Herrera was arrested and charged with murder in Rio Grande City, Texas after allegedly self-inducing an abortion, even though abortion is not currently a criminal offense in Texas.

More: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/30/austin-decriminalize-abortion-roe-00035791

[IsailedawayfromFR]

These arrogant libs in this hellhole believe they can do anything they want in their city limits.

They will soon get a hard lesson on reality as it hits them in the ass.

[Hoodat]

Councilmember Chito Vela is proposing a resolution that would direct the city’s police department to make criminal enforcement, arrest and investigation of abortions its lowest priority

That power rests with the Executive Branch, not the Legislative Branch.  City Council cannot order the police not to enforce the law.  The decision to enforce (or not enforce) the law resides with the police department alone.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

That power rests with the Executive Branch, not the Legislative Branch.  City Council cannot order the police not to enforce the law.  The decision to enforce (or not enforce) the law resides with the police department alone.

Yep, that is what the police do.

We do not want them to cherry pick which crimes they enforce.

We want them to enforce ALL laws. Otherwise you have a politicized police department

[Fishrrman]

I sailed wrote:
"We want them to enforce ALL laws. Otherwise you have a politicized police department"...

Your ideal may still be in force in the red states, and some of the purple ones.

But it's dying or already dead in the "deep blue" states.

Remember, Comrade...
The days of policies being "non-political"... are OVER.
Today, EVERYTHING has become "political".

So long as The Party's tentacles reach throughout the government and bureaucracies, this trend can only intensify...

[Hoodat]

Yep, that is what the police do.

We do not want them to cherry pick which crimes they enforce.

We want them to enforce ALL laws. Otherwise you have a politicized police department

So when you exceed the speed limit by 1mph, you want them to pull you over and write you a ticket?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

So when you exceed the speed limit by 1mph, you want them to pull you over and write you a ticket?

I never speed so that cannot happen.

Maybe for a broken tail light though.