“We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did.” 

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024

ARIZONA -–  “Kari Lake says ‘unfortunately’ Arizona isn’t enforcing 1864 abortion ban” according to new reporting from NBC News this morning. Lake doubled down on calling for the enforcement of the 1864 ban twice in the last week alone, and is “once again fully behind Arizona’s ghoulish 1864 near-total abortion ban” writes Arizona Republic Opinion’s EJ Montini. 

On April 13th, while in Mohave County, Lake “solidified her support for Arizona’s total abortion ban and called on county sheriffs to enforce the law once it goes into effect.”

On April 20th, while in Idaho, Lake said while “expressing disappointment:” “’Unfortunately,’ because Arizona officials won’t enforce the barbaric ban, ‘We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did …’”

Lake’s  “clear record on” abortion includes support for the 1864 territorial ban and calling for its enforcement, saying abortion is a “sacrifice, ”an “execution,” “not a medical choice,” “not health care,” and calling herself “100% pro-life” and says abortion is an “execution […] pure and simple.”

Read more about Lake’s support for the enforcement of the 1864 ban on abortion without exceptions for rape or incest:

Arizona Republic Opinion: Kari Lake doubles down on her support for Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban

By: EJ Montini

April 23rd, 2024

Key Points:

• Kari Lake is once again fully behind Arizona’s ghoulish 1864 near-total abortion ban.

• As you’ll remember, before the Arizona Supreme Court upheld the old law, Lake was all for it.

• On the day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Lake said, “I’m incredibly thrilled that we are going to have a great law that’s already on the books. I believe it’s ARS 13-3603 that will prohibit abortion in Arizona except to save the life of a mother. I think we’re going to be paving the way and setting course for other states to follow.”…

• That is not what Lake said over the weekend in Idaho, however.

• When asked by the Idaho Dispatch why she softened her opinion on abortion, Lake flipped back to her old opinion…

• She said in part, “The Arizona Supreme Court said this is the law of Arizona. But unfortunately the people running our state have said we’re not going to enforce it. So, it’s really political theater. We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did.”

• Unfortunately? We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did?

• Lake then tried to skitter away from the subject of the grotesque Civil War law by discussing the citizens’ initiative that will be on the Arizona ballot and that would put abortion rights into the state constitution. She expressed her burning desire to defeat it.

• And then, I guess, we’d go back to 1864.

NBC News: Kari Lake says ‘unfortunately’ Arizona isn’t enforcing 1864 abortion ban, flipping again

By: Alex Tabet

April 23rd, 2024

Key Points:

• Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake said in an interview with an Idaho media outlet that “unfortunately,” her state’s near-total abortion ban dating from 1864 is not being enforced…

• In an interview with the Idaho Dispatch on Saturday, Lake described the recent court decision upholding the 1864 law: “The Arizona Supreme Court said this is the law of Arizona. But unfortunately, the people running our state have said we’re not going to enforce it,” Lake said, expressing disappointment in steps taken by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, both Democrats, to block prosecutions under the ban. 

• “We don’t have that law, as much as many of us wish we did,” Lake added. 

• Lake’s campaign did not immediately respond to questions about her comments in the Idaho Dispatch interview.

• Lake was in Idaho as the keynote speaker for a local county Republican Party dinner. Her comments came in response to criticism from a group that opposes abortion rights, Idaho Chooses Life.

• Lake’s latest comments are very different from how she’s been speaking about the abortion law, which bans abortion after conception with no exceptions for rape or incest, since the state Supreme Court’s ruling…. 

• In 2022, while she was running for governor of Arizona, Lake called the law a “great law.” …

Read more about Lake’s “clear record on” abortion:

• Copper Courier: Kari Lake calls on Arizona county sheriffs to make arrests over 1864 abortion ban

• Rolling Stone: Kari Lake Wants Arizona Sheriffs to Enforce 1864 Abortion Ban

• The Hill: Kari Lake flips on Arizona abortion ban, says ‘unfortunately’ it’s not being enforced

• The Daily Beast: Kari Lake Can’t Make Up Her Mind About This 1864 Abortion Ban

• Arizona Republic: Kari Lake downplays 1864 abortion law, says Arizonans can travel ‘3 hours’ for procedure

• HuffPost: Kari Lake Wants You To Forget She Supported Arizona’s Near-Total Abortion Ban

• Mother Jones: Kari Lake Claims She Opposes Arizona’s Near-Total Abortion Ban—The Same One She Cheered Two Years Ago

• Arizona Republic Opinion: Don’t Buy Kari Lake’s Fake Concern Over An Arizona Supreme Court Abortion Ruling