If the bill is passed into law by Republican Gov. Nikki Haley (which it will be, in all likelihood), sc will then become the 13th state to adopt such a law, meaning that it would become illegal to obtain or perform an abortion after 19 weeks past conception (which usually works out to be about 22 weeks gestation, based on the woman’s menstrual cycle).
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Franklin Graham called a SC bill that restricts abortion after 19 weeks is “a step in the right direction that will save a lot of lives”, in a Facebook post, claiming that the bill is “good news”.
The bill protects “pain-capable unborn children from savage late abortions that frequently tear the baby’s body apart, limb by limb”, South Carolina Citizens for Life Executive Director Holly Gatling previously said in an email. The South Carolina bill makes no exceptions for cases involving rape or incest. Following ratification, the bill will be turned over to Gov. Nikki Haley.
I believe that life begins at conception and every step we can take to get back to that point is important. Rep. Wendy K. Nanney, a Republican sponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, said in a telephone interview Wednesday that she was “thrilled that it has passed”.
Miller said the proposal is part of “an extreme political agenda” created to “chip away at access to safe and legal abortion”.
Opponents of the bill however, argue that there are many flaws in Nanney’s argument, chiefly that the idea that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks is not actually supported by medical evidence.
Similar laws are in effect in 12 states and have been blocked by courts in three others, according to the Associated Press.
The bill does have exceptions for a medical emergency or severe fetal anomaly, but would not allow abortions in cases of rape or incest. South Dakota passed a similar law in March.
“I can’t imagine any scenario in which I wouldn’t sign it”, the Lexington Republican said in March, adding that she wanted to see the details before making a final decision.
Only four of the 16 states to pass the restrictions since 2010 allow a legal abortion if a doctor determines the child will be stillborn or die upon birth.
Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, says there will be a court challenge to the law, which could cost SC taxpayers millions of dollars to defend, and the state will lose. Each was struck down as unconstitutional by courts, according to the National Women’s Law Center.
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Those bans have been challenged in three states – Arizona, Georgia and Idaho. “When it comes to a political agenda, then spending taxpayers’ dollars is not a problem”, Smith said.
