Mississippi Ready to Impose Nation’s Earliest Abortion Ban

The Mississippi Senate passed the House bill Tuesday by a 35-14 vote that would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

If signed into law, HB 1510 would be the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation. The bill now goes to the House, and if passed there, on to the desk of Gov. Phil Bryant who stated he will sign it into law.

HB 1510 would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation, except in a medical emergency and in cases of severe fetal abnormality. The bill would prohibit a physician from performing an abortion without first determining the probable gestational age of the unborn child.

The determination of probable gestational age should be made according to standard medical practices and techniques used in the community. A physician who violates this would have his or her medical license suspended or revoked.

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, praised Mississippi senators for their vote on the bill.

“Science and medicine confirm what Psalm 139 says, that unborn babies of any gestational age are fully formed human beings, complete in design and DNA—knitted together in their mother’s womb,” Dobson says. “In lieu of a change in abortion laws at the national level, legislation such as House Bill 1510 represents a powerful reaffirmation of a state’s right to make and pass laws in fitting with the character and values of its own people. I applaud and support all legislation that further limits the number of abortions, whether it prohibits the taking of life at 20 weeks, 15, or two. The pro-life community will not stop until the Supreme Court of the United States overturns the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision and gives abortion law back to the domain of the states—not the Federal Government. The successful defense of such laws is critically important to us achieving our ultimate goal of ending the scourge of abortion in our land once and for all.

“I encourage everyone with a social media page, a phone or an email to voice your support for Mississippi’s courageous leadership in defense of the unborn and for similar efforts currently underway in other states. For those who wish to express their thanks, you may contact Mississippi Governor, Phil Bryant, who is expected to sign the bill into law. He can be reached via email at [email protected].”

The bill specifically states, “The Supreme Court has long recognized that the State of Mississippi has an ‘important and legitimate interest in protecting the potentiality of human life,’ and specifically that ‘the state has an interest in protecting the life of the unborn’ … The majority of abortion procedures performed after fifteen (15) weeks’ gestation are dilation and evacuation procedures which involve the use of surgical instruments to crush and tear the unborn child apart before removing the pieces of the dead child from the womb. The Legislature finds that the intentional commitment of such acts for nontherapeutic or elective reasons is a barbaric practice, dangerous for the maternal patient, and demeaning to the medical profession.”

Mississippi is one of the nation’s most pro-life states and has one abortion facility. Mississippi law currently prohibits the procedure after 20 weeks. Gov. Phil Bryant said, “Mississippians are committed to protecting the lives of unborn children, and this law will be a major step in accomplishing that goal. I am committed to making Mississippi the safest place in America for an unborn child. House Bill 1510 will help us achieve that goal, and I encourage the House to pass it and look forward to signing it.”

“Liberty Counsel commends the Mississippi Senate for passing HB 1510,” says Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “This is a positive step toward saving the lives of children and women in this state and the nation. Now we strongly encourage the House to quickly pass it so Governor Bryant can sign it into law.

“Abortion takes the life of an innocent human being and has enormous physical and psychological consequences on the mother. It’s time to stop committing human genocide in this nation, and Mississippi now can take the lead. We must make the womb a safe place again.”

For the original article, visit lc.org. {eoa}