South Carolina Governor Signs Pro-Life Law for 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 18, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

South Carolina Governor Signs Pro-Life Law for 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 18
, 2010

Columbia, SC (LifeNews.com) — South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed a bill into law today that has proven effective in other states in reducing the number of abortions. He signed a bill that allows women contemplating an abortion 24 hours to review information that could lead her to choose life for her unborn child.

The new language enhances the current Right to Know law by creating an authentic 24-hour waiting period.

It provides Internet links on the State Department of Health and Environmental Control website to pregnancy centers that offer free ultrasounds, and maintains the one-hour waiting period between the time the abortion practitioner does the ultrasound and the abortion.

Sanford said Wednesday he hope the new measure will save more unborn children who may have otherwise been killed in abortions.

"I believe life is sacred, and in the debate over when life begins, I think we as a society should always err on the side of life," Sanford said. "Given current federal law, I think it’s imperative that a decision of this magnitude only be made with the fullest and most accurate knowledge available."

The signing took place at the Carolina Pregnancy Center in Spartanburg.

Mary Spaulding Balch, the attorney for the National Right to Life Committee who is the director of state legislation says the current Right to Know Act is "a good law" that was made better with the waiting period.

“You now have a real reflection period that can make a difference between life and death," she said.

Faye Hill, director of the Lowcountry Pregnancy Care Center said the bill is a good one for pro-life interests.

“This is definitely a victory for the women of South Carolina and pregnancy care centers in being able to get information out about services we can provide," she said.

Lisa Van Riper, President of South Carolina Citizens for Life added: “I think this is another example of legislation assisting in guaranteeing that women have access to life-saving information."

“We are proud as members of South Carolina Citizens for Life to have been on the front line of working with House and Senate members in providing support and information as they have enhanced a woman’s right to know in South Carolina," she said.

The United State Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that states may constitutionally require a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion.

Related web sites:
South Carolina Citizens for Life – https://www.sclife.org

 

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