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By: The opinion Posted May 25, 2023, 21:27 pm EDT
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed into law banning abortion for six weeks on Thursday and will take effect immediately. The new law prohibits all abortions after fetal heart activity is detected, which usually occurs at six weeks of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.
In a statement, Gov. Henry McMaster said the law will begin “to save the lives of unborn children immediately” and said he is prepared to defend himself against potential lawsuits.
“The right to life must be preserved and we will do everything we can to protect it.“Wrote the Republican politician.
With my signature, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act is now law and will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges because there is no more important right than the right to life.
—Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) May 25, 2023
“With my signature, the Fetal Heartbeat and Abortion Protection Act is now law and will begin saving the lives of unborn children immediately. This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenge, and we are confident that we will succeed. The right to life must be preserved and we will do everything we can to protect it,” the governor said.
Until now, abortion was legal in the state up to the 22nd week of pregnancy, but access was limited by a lack of abortion clinics.
The measure is the latest in a series of abortion restrictions passed in Republican-ruled states, after the US Supreme Court last summer struck down constitutional protections for medical termination of pregnancy.
North Carolina recently passed a more moderate abortion ban, starting at 12 weeks gestationwhich its promoters see as a model to follow in view of the poor results of the Republicans in the midterm elections in November, in which abortion was one of the main campaign issues.
After the announcement, the White House rejected the new law, which it described as “extreme and dangerous” and assured that it will further restrict access to abortion for women in the south of the country, for whom “South Carolina was their closest option.” , after the states of North Carolina and Florida banned the termination of pregnancy.
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