South Dakota Senate Committee Approves Abortion Ban 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 17, 2006
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) — A South Dakota Senate panel has moved a ban on nearly all abortions in the state one step closer to passage. Some pro-life advocates support the legislation but others say it will only be overturned by the Supreme Court and force state taxpayers to foot pro-abortion legal bills.
The Senate committee heard testimony today on the bill and approved it on a 5-2 vote.
Megan Barnett, a rape victim who chose not to have an abortion, said lawmakers need to remember that unborn children deserve protection no matter how they were conceived.
"I believe life begins at conception no matter how the life is conceived and I now have a beautiful ten month old daughter," she said.
The bill prohibits all abortions exception those to save the life of the mother.
Meanwhile, another woman, Carrie Sanchez, said she had an abortion and was not told about the physical and psychological risks involved. Sanchez now regrets her decision.
"I’ve been ashamed, regretful and depressed that I killed my child’s life," she told legislators, according to the KELO report.
But Kate Looby of South Dakota Planned Parenthood’s abortion business glossed over the women’s testimonies.
"There is no research to support the idea that women are harmed. There are women with stories, a number of them today but that’s not representative of women who choose to terminate a pregnancy," she claimed.
Gov. Mike Rounds has indicated that he will support the bill if his initial concerns are addressed. However, even if the bill is passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, opponents are expected to get a court order to stop it from becoming law July 1.
While pro-life advocates believe the intent of the bill is laudable, some leading national pro-life leaders say that, given the current makeup of the Supreme Court, it is unlikely that such a bill will be upheld. They say another Justice who objects to Roe would have to join the high court before such legislation would be allowed to stand.
Pro-life groups also worry about being forced to pay tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to pro-abortion attorneys in legal fees should the state lose the expected lawsuit abortion advocates will file.
The full Senate is expected to vote on the legislation during the middle of next week. The House already approved the measure, HB 1215.
Five other states including Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky, have introduced similar abortion bans.
Related web sites:
South Dakota state legislature – https://legis.state.sd.us
South Dakota Right to Life – https://www.sdrl.org
