Fight over abortion ban engulfs lawmakers in Arizona legislature

Three Republican legislators openly oppose the ban, including state representative Matt Gress, who made a motion to repeal the law (Matt York/AP)

Shouts of “Shame! Shame!” were heard in the Arizona legislature on Wednesday as Republican lawmakers quickly shut down discussion on a proposed repeal of the state’s newly revived 1864 law that criminalises abortion throughout pregnancy unless a woman’s life is at risk.

The state supreme court cleared the way on Tuesday for enforcement of the pre-statehood law. Arizona abortion providers vowed on Wednesday to continue providing a service until they were forced to stop, possibly within weeks.