Anti-Abortion Groups Urge Attorney General to Enforce 150-Year-Old Law Against Mailing Abortion Pills
A coalition of anti-abortion organizations, including Advancing American Freedom, has urged U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche to use the 150-year-old Comstock Act to prevent the mailing of abortion pills. The Comstock Act, enacted in 1873, originally prohibited the mailing of…
Columbus, OH, August 12, 2026 —
A coalition of anti-abortion organizations has called on U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche to revive and enforce the Comstock Act, a federal law dating back to 1873, to block the mailing of abortion pills.
The group, which includes Advancing American Freedom, sent a letter to Attorney General Blanche asserting that the antiquated law could be used to prevent the distribution of medication used for abortions. The Comstock Act, originally enacted to prohibit the mailing of “obscene material,” historically encompassed items deemed to be used for abortion.
The letter specifically targets a 2022 Department of Justice opinion. This opinion had previously concluded that the Comstock Act did not prohibit the mailing of certain abortion drugs under particular circumstances. The organizations are urging a re-evaluation of this earlier legal interpretation.
This push to potentially enforce the Comstock Act occurs amidst a backdrop of significant legal activity surrounding abortion access. There are ongoing legal challenges directed at the Food and Drug Administration’s regulations concerning mifepristone, a medication widely used in abortion procedures. The potential enforcement of the Comstock Act adds another layer to these complex legal battles.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the potential broader implications of enforcing such a law. Advocates and some legal experts express worries that the application of the Comstock Act could inadvertently affect access to essential obstetric care, extending beyond its intended target of abortion pills.
The Comstock Act, named after Anthony Comstock, a prominent social reformer, was part of a series of laws aimed at suppressing vice and obscenity. Its revival as a tool in the contemporary debate over abortion rights highlights the enduring impact of historical legislation on current social and legal issues.
Story summarized from the original created by Kelcie Moseley-Morris on ohiocapitaljournal.com, see more information here.
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