The South Carolina legislature has given final approval to a bill that would save babies from abortions by banning abortions after 6 weeks when the unborn baby’s heartbeat is can be determined. The proposal will now go to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who will sign it into law.
In a vote of 27-19, the Senate on Tuesday voted to approve changes the House made to a six-week abortion ban — S. 474 — that would ban abortions once a heartbeat is detected.
The bill now goes to McMaster, who has called the legislature back to pass a bill protecting life and preventing painful late-term abortions in South Carolina.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said the state needs to pass the bill to protect babies and prevent the influx of people from other states who have abortions.
In February, DHEC reported that 504 South Carolina residents received abortions, compared to 482 visitors, according to Massey. And in March, 525 SC residents and 433 visitors received an abortion.
“The abortion landscape has changed significantly even since our last debate on the issue last month,” said Massey, R-Edgefield, referring to the upper chamber’s April vote to reject a near-total abortion ban. . “South Carolina has become the abortion capital of the southeast, and there’s really no other way to say it.”
The pro-life bill includes exceptions for rape and incest not exceeding 12 weeks, fatal fetal anomaly and the life of the mother. Under the House amendments, the bill includes several new requirements, such as requiring child support to begin at conception and allowing a judge to decide whether a minor can have an abortion if the a parent or guardian is not available.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a leading pro-life group, applauded the passage. SBA’s Caitlin Connors celebrated the bill’s passage:
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“South Carolina’s heartbeat protection reflects the will of the people and the science. A heartbeat is one of the most important signs of life, and when that heartbeat is detected, a baby has more than 90% probability of survival to birth. This measure will save thousands of individuals each year enriching the lives of others and the state of South Carolina,” he told LifeNews. “We thank members of the South Carolina House for their persistence during the marathon days last week when Democrats introduced the 1,000 amendment as a stall tactic in their effort to continue late-term abortions, and we are grateful that the Senate today sent the necessary protection to Gov. McMaster’s table.”
South Carolina will soon join 18 states that protect babies from abortions at 15 weeks or earlier.
The state’s previous heartbeat law was struck down by the state Supreme Court, leaving open the possibility of passing a new measure. The legislature was in the middle of finishing work on the heartbeat legislation when the session ended and McMaster ordered a special legislative session to move the bill forward.
The bill passed by an 82-33 vote in the House, largely along party lines with two Democrats in the chamber joining Republicans.
According to the State Department of Health and Environmental Control, there are currently 1,000 abortions per month occurring in the Palmetto State largely due to out-of-state abortion traffic. That means the law will save hundreds of babies every month and thousands every year.
