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Mississippi Close to Banning Abortions—Governor Likely to Sign Bill

By Gudrun Schultz

JACKSON, Mississippi, March 2, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said he would most likely sign a bill that would ban abortions in the state, if lawmakers approve it in an upcoming vote.

Bill 2922 would ban all abortions, including pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Under the new legislature a woman could only have an abortion if it would save her life.  The bill passed the House Public Health Committee on Tuesday. It now goes to the full House, which could vote as early as next week.

Gov. Barbour said Wednesday he would probably sign the bill even though he would prefer a clause allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest.

“It hasn’t gotten to my desk yet. When one gets there, we’ll find out, and I suspect I’ll sign it. But I would certainly rather it come to my desk with an exception for rape and incest. I think that’s consistent with the opinion of the vast majority of Mississippians and Americans.”

Mississippi has already restricted access to abortion, requiring a 24-hour wait period with counseling, and notification of both parents of a minor, before having an abortion.

 Steve Holland, House Public Health Committee Chairman, who introduced the broad ban, told the Associated Press he was tired of “piecemeal attempts” to place greater restrictions on abortion each year.

In June of 2005 a Mississippi judge threw out a law as unconstitutional that would have effectively banned second-trimester abortions in the state. The law would have required that they be carried out in a hospital setting. No hospitals in the state perform abortions—Mississippi has only one abortion clinic, in Jackson.
 
South Dakota passed a similar bill banning abortions last week, with no exception for rape or incest.  It is now before Republican Gov. Mike Rounds, who has said he will probably sign it into law.

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Law Prohibiting Late-Term Abortions Overturned by Mississippi Judge
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jun/05060201.html

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