South Carolina Prepares To Ban Abortions After 6 Weeks—But Court Challenges Could Follow
ForbesMay 27, 2023
The Facts
On Tuesday, the Republican-majority South Carolina Senate approved a bill to ban most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy, restoring a 2021 ban that went into effect after SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade last year.
The earlier measure was ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court. This revised bill includes exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and medical emergencies but otherwise bans abortions — currently legal up to 22 weeks — after fetal cardiac activity is detected.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
South Carolina has become an important provider of abortions since neighboring states have adopted extremely strict bans. Now this bill, which is so extreme it’s even opposed by several Republicans, is going to make it near impossible to receive an abortion. The state Supreme Court should strike it down as it did to the similar ban in January.
Republican narrative
It’s time for South Carolina to stop being the abortion capital of the South. This bill brings the state in line with its neighbors in clamping down on the killing of unborn children. It also simultaneously contains the necessary exceptions to preserve the health and life of the mother, but has been rewritten just enough to get around any concerns over privacy rights.