South Dakota’s Hard Line on Abortion
South Dakota’s State Senate approved legislation that would ban all abortions except when a woman’s life is in danger. The bill, designed to wage a national legal fight about the legality of abortion, passed 23-12 Wednesday. It next returns to the state House, which has passed a different version.
The measure would make South Dakota the first state to ban abortion in nearly all circumstances. Doctors would face up to five years in prison for performing abortions unless a woman needed one to save her life.
“In my opinion, it is the time for the South Dakota Legislature to deal with this issue and protect the lives and rights of unborn children,” said Sen. Julie Bartling, a Democrat who is the bill’s main sponsor.
The legislation is designed to create a courtroom showdown targeting Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.
Planned Parenthood, which operates the only abortion clinic in South Dakota, pledged to challenge the measure in court if it wins final approval from the Legislature and is signed by Gov. Mike Rounds.
“South Dakota’s ban is the most sweeping abortion ban passed by any state in more than a decade. Planned Parenthood will go to court to ensure women, with their doctors and families, continue to be able to make personal health care decisions not politicians,” Planned Parenthood Federation of America lawyer Eve Gartner said in a written statement.
Sen. Stan Adelstein, a Republican, said he believes it would be “a continued savagery unworthy of South Dakota” to make a woman bear a child if she becomes pregnant as the result of rape.
There is a full moon and the planets are aligning. The equilibrium of the universe is off its kilter. The main sponsor of this no-holds-barred bill is state Senator Julie Bartling, a Democrat, and a principle opponent of the bill is Republican Sen. Stan Adelstein. Bravo to Democrats who vote against party lines when it conflicts with moral principle. The unborn of South Dakota salute you.
With Pres. Bush appointees to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, and in light of the recent partial birth abortion case coming before the Supreme Court, there is reason to believe that Roe Vs. Wade may indeed be overturned in America. The power to make such laws would rightfully return to the jurisdiction of the states where it should have remained all along. Then perhaps there will be more “South Dakotas” stepping up to the plate to “deal with this issue and protect the lives and rights of unborn children.”
Cross-posted at Amy’s Blog
February 24th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
I always wonder how abortion “rights” became part of the national Democratic Party’s platform.
February 24th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Michael, it became a staple of the Democrats the second Republicans fought against it. Republicans care about religion so therefore Democrats are hell bent on secularism. Many many people have said that a pro-life non-secular Democratic front runner can steal the black vote back from the GOP, but they just can’t give it up.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
It’s about time that the fight for life finally be taken to the courts and legislatures in a concrete, meaningful way. The ideological fight has been fought long enough so as to convince enough that abortion is murder, and as technology and extremely advanced GE ultrasounds show more and more of the truth about the humanity of the fetus, life can be secured again.
Thank God, our fight is coming home.
February 25th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
Just out of curiosity, the conservatives are generally known as “pro-life” and the libs/donkeys/moonbats generally as “pro-choice”. Since they also have started leaning in favor of euthanasia, “death with dignity”, etc., shouldn’t they start being called the “pro-death” camp? Seems that would match up better with the “pro-life” verbiage.
Just sayin’.
February 25th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
I have no idea what you’re talking about, Carlos. Pro-lifer’s are generally more anti-euthenasia than their liberal counterparts. Liberals tend to have the corner on the death market. Remember Teri Schiavo?
February 27th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Amy,
After re-reading my comment, I should have been more clear. I meant to say that the “pro-choice” folks were leaning harder into euthanasia, not the pro-lifers.
Living in Oregon, I get to see the results of the utter disregard for HUMAN life daily. The tree worshippers, frog kissers, “death-with-dignity” crowd: it’s enough to make a grown man (or woman, or anyone with an ounce of respect for our own species) cry.
Thank you for correcting me.