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A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 18 May 2019

Missouri’s GOP-led Legislature passes 8-week abortion ban

By SUMMER BALLENTINE cuit Court of Appeals by that viability typically was able to practice medicine floor to protesters. “I’m sorry
Associated Press President Donald Trump. 24 to 28 weeks. But she said that is informed by their there aren’t enough of us in
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) If courts don’t allow Mis- parts of the wide-ranging years of medical educa- this chamber to stop this.”
— Missouri’s Republican- souri’s proposed eight- bill likely will survive. tion, training, experience, A handful of abortion op-
led House on Friday passed ponents protested outside
sweeping legislation de- the Planned Parenthood
signed to survive court clinic in St. Louis on Friday.
challenges, which would Among them was 21-year-
ban abortions at eight old Teresa Pettis, a Catholic
weeks of pregnancy. who is five months’ preg-
If enacted, the ban would nant with her first child.
be among the most restric- She said she supports the
tive in the U.S. It includes ex- bill even though it outlaws
ceptions for medical emer- abortions for women who
gencies, but not for preg- have been raped.
nancies caused by rape or “Honestly, I don’t think it’s
incest. Doctors would face right to punish the child for
five to 15 years in prison for something the child can’t
violating the eight-week control,” Pettis said. “The
cutoff. Women who re- baby might be born in un-
ceive abortions wouldn’t fortunate circumstances,
be prosecuted. but it’s still a human life.”
Republican Gov. Mike Par- Rep. Shamed Dogan was
son pledged to sign the bill the only Republican to
, but it’s unclear when he’ll vote against the bill. He cit-
take action. When pressed ed the lack of exceptions
on the lack of exceptions for pregnancies borne of
for rape or incest, he told rape and incest, and said
reporters that “all life has Abortion-rights activists react after lawmakers approved a sweeping piece of anti-abortion most residents of his subur-
value.” legislation, a bill that would ban most abortions in the state of Missouri, Friday, May 17, 2019 in ban St. Louis district “think
“I’m going to stand up for Jefferson, Mo. Associated Press that’s going too far.”
the people that don’t have One Democrat voted in fa-
a voice,” Parson said. “Ev- week ban to take effect, “I do believe that there and the available evi- vor.
erybody should have a the bill includes a ladder are probably some provi- dence, freely and without A total of 3,903 abortions
right to life.” of less-restrictive time limits sions that will pass court threat of criminal punish- occurred in Missouri in 2017,
The Missouri legislation that would prohibit abor- challenges,” Schupp said. ment,” the group said. the last full year for which
comes after Alabama’s tions at 14, 18 or 20 weeks “So what we end up doing The Hope Clinic for Wom- the state Department of
governor signed a bill or pregnancy. here today and through en, which performs abor- Health and Senior Servic-
Wednesday making per- “While others are zeroing this legislative session is un- tions in Granite City, Illinois, es has statistics online. Of
forming an abortion a felo- in on ways to overturn Roe dermining a woman’s right just across the river from those, 1,673 occurred at
ny in nearly all cases. v. Wade and navigate the to choose.” St. Louis, noted it already under nine weeks and 119
Supporters say the Ala- courts as quickly as pos- Missouri’s bill also includes sees Missouri patients on a occurred at 20 weeks or
bama bill is meant to con- sible, that is not our goal,” an outright ban on abor- daily basis. “Our doors re- later in a pregnancy.
flict with the 1973 Roe v. Schroer said. “However, if tions except in cases of main open for any patient About 2,900 abortions oc-
Wade decision that legal- and when that fight comes medical emergencies. But who needs abortion care,” curred in 2018, according
ized abortion nationally in we will be fully ready. This unlike Alabama’s, it would Executive Director Dr. Erin to the agency.
hopes of sparking a court legislation has one goal, kick in only if Roe v. Wade is King said in a statement. The bill also bans abortions
case that might prompt the and that goal is to save overturned. Abortion-rights supporters in based solely on race, sex
current panel of more con- lives.” Clinicians reacted with dis- the House chanted, “when or a diagnosis indicating
servative justices to revisit Kentucky , Mississippi , Ohio gust to the passage of the you lie, people die” and the potential for Down Syn-
abortion rights. and Georgia also have ap- bill. “women’s rights are human drome.
Missouri Republicans are proved bans on abortion “Ob-gyns and other wom- rights” during debate on It also requires a parent
taking a different ap- once fetal cardiac activity en’s health care providers the measure before being or guardian giving written
proach. can be detected, which should not be threatened escorted from the cham- consent for a minor to get
GOP Rep. Nick Schroer said can occur in about the with criminal penalties for ber. Outside, they shouted an abortion to first notify
his legislation is “made to sixth week of pregnancy. delivering evidence based, “shame, shame, shame” the other parent, except if
withstand judicial challeng- Some of those laws already necessary health care,” after lawmakers voted 110- the other parent has been
es and not cause them.” have been challenged in the Missouri Section of the 44 to pass it. convicted of a violent or
He cited extensive “legis- court , and similar restric- American College of Ob- Several women dressed sexual crime, is subject to a
lative findings” included in tions in North Dakota and stetricians and Gynecolo- as characters from the protection order or is “ha-
the bill about fetal devel- Iowa previously were struck gists said in an emailed “The Handmaid’s Tale” bitually in an intoxicated
opment that are aimed at down by judges. statement. watched silently. The Mar- or drugged condition.” A
backing up the state’s in- Democratic Sen. Jill Sch- The bill “would force clini- garet Atwood book and change was made after
terest in limiting abortion if upp said she believes cians to decide between subsequent Hulu TV series hours of late-night nego-
the measure is challenged, the eight-week ban goes their patient’s needs and depicts a dystopian future tiations in the state Senate
as well as new judges ap- against Roe v. Wade, un- facing criminal proceed- where fertile women are to also remove the require-
pointed to the 8th U.S. Cir- der which justices noted ings. All clinicians must be forced to breed. ment when the other par-
“To the women of this state ent lacks legal or physical
and the women up here, custody.
I’m sorry,” Democratic If Parson signs, most provi-
Minority Leader Crystal sions of the bill would take
Quade said on the House effect Aug. 28.q