Tommy Crangle backs abortion regulations on November ballot

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE -- Republican Tommy Crangle, of Signal Mountain, a state House District 27 candidate, says he backs a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would grant state lawmakers more authority in regulating abortion.

"At the current time, beauty salons are more regulated than abortion facilities, and data that I have seen shows that women from other states are coming to Tennessee to have unregulated abortions," Crangle said in a statement released by the Tennessee Conservative Resource Group.

Crangle said "we have effectively absolved ourselves of any responsibility to inform these women or even make safe the facilities being used. That is irresponsible."

Crangle referenced a 2000 ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court that bars laws that neighboring states have enacted including waiting periods, bans on later trimester abortions and required ultrasounds.

He said that according to a recent USA Today article, more than 1 in 4 abortions in Tennessee were sought by women from out of state.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said he supports Amendment 1, which if approved would give state elected officials more power to regulate abortions. Haslam, however, has been vague on what initiatives he might recommend, if any. Amendment 1 will be on the November ballot.

Crangle is vying with Patsy Hazelwood and Charlie White in the Aug. 7 GOP primary election. The District 27 seat includes Soddy-Daisy; Falling Water; Red Bank; Mowbray; Signal and Lookout Mountains; Lookout Valley and Walden.

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