A 150-year-old law has been cited in a federal case in Texas as a reason abortion drugs should be restricted. The Comstock Act banned the use of the mail to spread "obscene" information or materials, including items related to sex and reproductive health. It's been largely ignored or forgotten until now. 🚫 The law is named after Andrew Comstock, a deeply religious man who believed people were easily corrupted and it was the government's job to protect them from harmful influences. 🚫 His law was largely unpopular, but Congress never repealed it. Individual court cases — like the one that legalized contraceptives — overturned most parts of the act. 🚫 When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the DOJ said the Comstock Act didn't apply to mailed abortion pills if used legally. 🚫 Anti-abortion activists argue otherwise. Legal experts say the broadness of the Comstock Act could impact the distribution of other medical products. |
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