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Indy Chamber, Gen Con condemn proposed abortion ban

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Indy Chamber, Gen Con condemn proposed abortion ban

Aug 04, 2022 | 10:40 am ET
By Whitney Downard
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Indy Chamber, Gen Con condemn proposed abortion ban
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The Indy Chamber tweeted out this statement Thursday ahead of an anticipated vote on a proposed abortion ban (From the Indy Chamber's Twitter Profile)

The state’s largest regional business chamber, Indy Chamber, chastised the state legislature for moving a measure that would ban abortion from conception, with exemptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.

“The Indy Chamber urges the legislature not to proceed with (Senate Bill) 1. We ask that the General Assembly instead take time to listen to the public, consult with physicians and health care providers, and work to address these unanswered questions,” the organization said in a statement.

“Unanswered questions” included in the statement released Thursday ranged from social services supports to improving maternal/infant health and protecting physicians from legal risk.

Specifically, the Indy Chamber criticized the legislature for the speed of the bill’s progress over the course of two weeks, rather than the months it would receive during a regular session.

“Such an expedited legislative process – rushing to advance state policy on broad, complex issues, is, at best, detrimental to Hoosiers, and at worst, reckless,” the statement said.

One of the state’s largest annual conventions, Gen Con, also tweeted a statement condemning the bill on Wednesday.

“We at Gen Con believe in the right to autonomy over our bodies and the right to choose. Reproductive rights are human rights. Like many of you, we are hurt, angry and frustrated by recent events, including the recent advancement of SB1 by the Indiana General Assembly,” Gen Con said. “These actions have a direct impact on our team and our community and we are committed to fighting for safety, tolerance and justice in all the places we operate.”

The convention’s thousands of attendees, nearly 70,000 in 2019, started arriving earlier this week for events, which started Thursday. The Seattle-based organizers have held the tabletop gaming event in Indianapolis since 2003.

One vendor – Lone Shark Games – also pulled out of the convention – saying it isn’t comfortable supporting the state of Indiana by attending.

“We are heartbroken and furious at this latest decision, which will rob those who can become pregnant of their bodily autonomy and endanger their lives,” a statement said. “Lone Shark Games supports every person’s rights to make decisions about their own bodies and health care, including whether to have an abortion.”