South Carolina Abortion Bill Would Impose Death Penalty For Terminating A Pregnancy

Republican lawmakers in South Carolina are debating whether to change a controversial bill that would make individuals who receive an abortion eligible for the death penalty.

The bill, which has been dubbed the South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023, would “ensure that an unborn child who is a victim of homicide is afforded equal protection under the homicide laws of the state,” according to South Carolina General Assembly website.

The bill would also define a “person” as an “unborn child at every stage of development from fertilization until birth.”

There are some exceptions for pregnant people and in cases of emergency

“To see this debate go to the dark places, the dark edges, where it has gone on both sides of the aisle, has been deeply disturbing to me as a woman, as a female legislator, as a mom, and as a victim of rape,” Mace said, according to The Hill. 

Since the fall of Roe, Republican states have been working overtime to place abortion limitations. 18 states have launched near or total bans on the procedure.

As of now, abortion remains constitutional in South Carolina, but Republican lawmakers are determined to change this.

Before the stringent ban went into effect, in 2021 the Food and Drug Administration relaxed some of the tight restrictions placed on one abortion pill called mifepristone, which can end a pregnancy that is less than 10 weeks along. Patients were initially required to pick up the medication at a certified hospital or clinic, but during the pandemic, the Biden Administration changed the protocol, allowing women in abortion-banned states to receive the pill by mail.

SEE ALSO:

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Stands Up For Reproductive Justice Amid Texas Abortion Pill Case

Vice President Harris Delivers Fierce Speech Commemorating 50th Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade

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