State Senators passed a measure that bans abortions after 22 weeks. The bill’s supporters say it’s because of the unborn baby’s ability to feel pain. Much of the testimony included emotional personal stories.
State Senator Jenna Haggar says the people of South Dakota have a desire to protect the lives of unborn children, when they’re shown by medical evidence to be capable of experiencing pain.
“Children of this gestational age, they have all bodily organs, and they function intact,” Haggar says. “They’re often able to survive outside the womb with proper medical care. So when unborn babies feel pain, we must protect them, keep them safe, and we cannot rationalize harming them, let alone ending their life.”
Opponents of Senate Bill 72 say it’s not the state’s place to make family decisions. Senator Deb Peters shared the story of complications with her first pregnancy, and difficult decisions she and her husband had to make. She says this bill would not have made her life easier.
“I will tell you that we have no businesses passing pieces of legislation like this, that gets in the way of family decisions, and the family decision between the mother, and the family, and the doctor,” Peters says. “This is personal folks. Yes, we’re trying to protect that unborn child. But I will tell you that families in this state are also trying to protect that unborn child. This bill has no business being here today.”
Senators passed the bill with a vote of 21 to 14. It now heads to a House committee for further debate.