Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) -- A Missouri state lawmaker has unveiled legislation that would make his state the next to try to ban virtually all abortions. The bill comes on the heels of one approved by the South Dakota legislature and another advancing in Mississippi.

Sen. Jason Crowell introduced legislation on Wednesday that bans all abortions in the state except in very rare cases to save the life of the mother. Abortion practitioners who violate the ban would face anywhere from 5 to 15 years in prison.

"The time has come for us to outlaw abortion. The time has come for these decisions to be made in these deliberative bodies, not by nine men and women who wear black robes," Crowell, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, told the Associated Press.

The measure would not become law, but would go before voters on the November ballot.

Crowell also filed a bill that would change the state constitution to prevent abortions and it would also appear on the November ballot if approved.

According to AP, the amendment reads: "No person shall knowingly use or employ any instrument or procedure upon a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn child."

Last week, South Dakota lawmakers approved a similar ban on almost all abortions and pro-life Gov. Mike Rounds has indicated he would likely sign it. Meanwhile, legislators in Mississippi just amended a pro-life bill to become an abortion ban and Gov. Haley Barbour there said he would probably sign it as well.

Pro-life groups are split on the issue of state abortion bans with some urging them forward and others saying the Supreme Court will only strike them down because there are just four possible votes to overturn Roe v. Wade.