By Gudrun Schultz
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, March 27, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Alabama will soon join South Dakota in making abortion a felony, if state legislators have their way.
Republican Sen. Hank Erwin and Rep. Nick Williams have each introduced a bill that would ban all abortions in the state unless the mothers’ life was at risk. The bills are similar to legislation banning abortion that passed in South Dakota last month and was signed by Gov. Mike Rounds on March 6.
“I thought if South Dakota can do it, Alabama ought to do it because we are a family friendly state,” Mr. Erwin told the Associated Press on Saturday. The bill he introduced in the Senate would ban abortions in cases of pregnancies that resulted from rape or incest.
“I don’t think you need to penalize the unborn child when something like that happens,” he said.
It is unlikely either of the bills will pass this year. Democrat representatives dominate both the Senate and the House. Supporters of the bill are anticipating a growth in Republican control of the Alabama House and Senate in this year’s elections, however, and say they intend to keep working towards a pro-life victory.
“I think you will see in every session from this day forward a South Dakota-type abortion ban bill,” said John Giles, president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama.
A third bill, that would see a person who kills or injures a pregnant woman charged with crimes against two people, both the mother and the child, has been held up by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
ÂRep. Williams said he introduced his bill in the House because “it’s the right thing to do.”
“It’s something we need to address,” Williams said. “I believe the majority of people in this state are pro-life and would support this legislation.”
“We are making a statement with the bill this year and next year we are going to take action,” Mr. Erwin said. “I don’t think there is any doubt that the Alabama Senate is going to change next year. We are going to become a family friendly body to the unborn children of Alabama.”
Mr. Giles is hopeful that the Alabama Legislature will eventually pass an abortion ban.
“In all statistical data, Alabama is the most conservative state in the Southeast. If abortion can be stopped, it can be stopped in Alabama,” Giles said.
Similar legislation is being considered in a number of other states, including Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Abortion Ban Signed into Law by South Dakota Governor
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/mar/06030603.html
Abortion Activists in U.S. Say They Are Losing the Battle
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06013008.html