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Saturday, May 21st, 2016

South Carolina joins the 17 other states that have sought to ban abortions at 20 weeks

Author:    
Source:     Daily Kos
Publication Date:     2016/05/18 · 11:08
Link: South Carolina joins the 17 other states that have sought to ban abortions at 20 weeks
Stephan:   The Republican Party has an almost hysterical objection to women controlling their own bodies, and this report describes what that has come to mean. The irrationality of this trend is spelled out in data by the fact that study after study has shown that fact based sex ed, and easy access to contraception is the best way to reduce abortions, and the anti-choicers are opposed to both. And then there is the sordid story of what happens to these supposedly cherished fetuses in anti-choice states after they are born. Note two other things: Rape and incest in these states is no longer considered a reason to permit abortion; and a number of these states are in the geographical zones where the Zika virus is predicted to be most prevalent. Think about the consequences of both these things.

coat hanger pro choiceIn 2010, Nebraska passed the first state law banning abortions at 20 weeks of gestation and beyond. Tuesday, South Carolina became the 18th state to do so, although some of them effectively ban abortion at 18 weeks. The vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act passed the S.C. House of Representatives by a 79-29 vote. The state senate passed the bill in March by 36-9. Gov. Nikki Haley is certain to sign it into law.

Passage of these 20-week bans, another of the forced-birther tactics in the drive to ban all legal abortions, is predicated upon the view that fetuses can feel pain at 20 weeks gestation. Neurologists and other members of the medical community dispute that claim.

Like all but one of the other state 20-week bans, South Carolina’s includes no exceptions for rape or incest. The only exceptions are when the life of the mother is at risk and when fetal anomalies mean no chance of survival outside the womb. More than half the 20-week state bans have no exception for fetal anomalies whatsoever. South Carolina’s ban also includes an inadequate health exception for the mother. Physicians […]

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