In a heartbreaking development for reproductive rights, South Carolina lawmakers are pushing a bill that could charge women who have abortions with murder.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Unborn Child Protection Act” or S.323, goes further than any abortion law seen in the United States. If passed, it would classify abortion as a felony equivalent to homicide. Women who terminate pregnancies could face up to 30 years behind bars.
The bill removes all existing exceptions, including for victims of rape and incest, and makes it a crime to possess abortion pills, seek information about abortions, or help someone leave the state to get one. Even transporting a minor across state lines for the procedure could lead to felony charges.
“If people think that there are exceptions here, I want to reiterate that there are none,” said Amalia Luxardo, CEO of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN). “It really is, quite literally, the most extreme piece of legislation that we’ve seen in the reproductive health care space ever in this country.”
Nimra Chowdhry of the Center for Reproductive Rights warned that if South Carolina passes this bill, other conservative states could follow quickly.
On November 18, a State Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee debated the bill for over three hours. Four Republican members declined to vote, allowing three Democrats to block the bill—for immediately.
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