South Carolina just outdid North Carolina and passed a new pro-life heartbeat bill that will effectively end most abortions in the state. The bill bans abortions after six weeks and the governor intends to sign it as soon as possible.
Here’s more via Fox News:
The South Carolina legislature passed a six-week “heartbeat” abortion restriction Tuesday that is set to be signed into law by the governor.
The “Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act” passed in the state Senate on Tuesday after the House passed the bill a week prior. The bill allows abortions up until a fetal heartbeat is detectable, which is at roughly six weeks. Gov. Henry McMaster, R-S.C., vowed to sign the bill.
“The General Assembly has handled this issue in a thoughtful, transparent and collaborative manner,” McMaster tweeted after the bill passed. “Tonight, our state is one step closer to protecting more innocent lives. I look forward to signing this bill into law as soon as possible.”
Physicians who violate the soon law will have their medical license revoked by the State Board of Medical Examiners and could face jail time.
The bill includes exceptions for the life of the mother and fetal anomalies. In instances of rape an incest, access to abortion would be until up to 12 weeks.
The bill also states that biological fathers will be required by the law to pay child support at the conception of their child.
Just like so many abortion-banning bills around the country, this one isn’t perfect. Indeed the state House wanted the bill to ban abortions after conception, but couldn’t get it through the state Senate.
This was the compromise and it will protect the lives of the vast majority of unborn children.
I must add that the child support requirement is amazing. I don’t know if South Carolina is the first to mandate fathers begin paying child support at conception, but I love the idea. In fact this might make some men think twice before having sex out of wedlock if they know they’ll likely be paying child support within a matter of months, especially since the woman can’t now get an abortion.