Wednesday February 11, 2004

South Dakota House Passes Abortion Ban after Women's Testimony

PIERRE, February 11, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A bill that would effectively outlaw most abortion in that state has passed the House in South Dakota. The bill passed after dozens of women testified to the House State Affairs Committee to the disaster abortion had caused in their lives. Women had spoken of being haunted by emotional agony and lingering shame years after having abortions. Some recounted suicide attempts and legislators were told of others who had killed themselves.

The bill passed by a wide majority, 45-15. Pro-life observers are pleased with the passage but fear that should the bill be made law it will simply be struck down by the courts. Roe vs. Wade made it impossible for the states to exercise their constitutional authority. John Muggeridge, veteran pro-life campaigner, said, "It's a great sign because it attacks Roe where it hurts, at the state level. Roe was an attack on the state's rights to regulate the family. In Canadian law, the family, divorce, marriage etc, is under federal jurisdiction; in the US it is the state's jurisdiction."

The legislation declares that life begins at the moment of fertilization. It would make abortion illegal unless the life of a woman is at risk by giving birth, without even allowing the specious 'rape exception'.

"Human life applies to all human beings, born or unborn," the measure declares.

See local coverage:
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/7886050.htm
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7923032.htm

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/feb/04021104.html

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