KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Supreme Court of the United States struck down Roe v. Wade, giving states authority to limit or ban abortion.

When it comes to the end of Roe v. Wade, both Kansas and Missouri have one thing in common, a local fight in their respective states. What they’re fighting for is different.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that the decision triggered part of the state’s House Bill 126, effectively ending abortion in Missouri.

“Today, following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, with the issuance of an attorney general opinion, my Office has yet again reinforced Missouri’s dedication to protecting the sanctity of life, both born and unborn,” Schmitt said. “With this attorney general opinion, my Office has effectively ended abortion in Missouri, becoming the first state in the country to do so following the Court’s ruling.”

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was released, many organizations kicked into defensive mode.

“Two hundred and fifty years ago, our country’s founders said, ‘All men are created equal.’ Today, the Supreme Court took the ‘men’ part literally, stripping rights from every woman in America,” Emily Wales, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said.

More states are expected to follow Missouri in enacting trigger laws.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains said the organization won’t go anywhere but how they provide care will have to shift.

“Your rights are entirely dependent on where you reside. Yet in this very grim moment in American history, Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ doors are still open and will stay open, to provide sexual and reproductive care today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Our services may be forced to change due to cruel bans on abortion care, but our commitment to our patients remains.” 

The final ruling means access to abortion would become a state-by-state issue.

The group Value Them Both has put a measure on the ballot for the August primary election that could reverse a Kansas Supreme Court ruling. The justices held that the state constitution gives women the constitutional right to an abortion, effectively limiting regulation by state lawmakers.

If the measure passes in August, supporters believe it would return the power to regulate abortion to the people through their state lawmakers. 

Twenty-three states are ready to ban abortion, including Missouri. Kansas has restrictions.

In 2018 and 2019, more Missourians received an abortion in Kansas than they did in their own state. Data shows in 2018, 2,645 Missourians received an abortion in-state but 3,279 Missourians received their abortion just across state lines in Kansas, nearly 24% more abortions performed on Missourians out of state than in their own.