"The Political Consequences of Republican Anti-Abortion Policies"

The availability of abortion pills, such as mifepristone, presents a political gift to Republicans who oppose abortion. However, pushing for new restrictions on medication abortions could lead them into a political dead-end. The majority of abortions in the US are now self-induced through medication, making it difficult to prosecute those involved. Anti-abortion groups are attempting to target pharmacies, but it is unlikely to be effective. The question of who should be held criminally responsible for self-induced abortions is becoming unavoidable, forcing Republicans to answer an uncomfortable question. Criminalizing women who terminate their pregnancies is politically untenable, and the anti-abortion movement risks a backlash if they pursue this path.