Mississippi House Passes Bill that Would Ban Abortions Based on Race, Sex, Genetic Abnormalities
The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban abortions performed because of a baby’s race, sex or possible genetic abnormalities.
According to The Christian Post, House Bill 1295 passed in the Mississippi House with a vote of 79-33.
Sue Liebel, state policy director for the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life group, said she expects the bill to become law.
“Abortions carried out because of a baby’s sex, race, or potential disability, such as Down syndrome, is no less than modern-day eugenics,” said Liebel in a statement.
“SBA List is confident these staunch pro-life advocates will continue to champion this bill until it reaches Governor Tate Reeves’ desk — a strongly pro-life governor who will not fail to sign it into law.”
The bill does provide for exemptions for medical emergencies. Abortion providers who violate the law would face as much as 10 years in prison and could have their state medical license suspended or revoked.
“Abortions predicated on the presence or presumed presence of genetic abnormalities continue to occur despite the increasingly favorable post-natal outcomes for human beings perceived as handicapped or disabled,” explains HB 1295 in part.
“Pharmaceutical treatments, gene therapies, and prosthetic advances have given formerly handicapped and disabled human beings much greater opportunities for survival and success than ever before. Importantly, surgical intervention now includes the availability of intrauterine surgery.”
Rep. Sonya Williams-Barnes, of Gulfport, who voted against the bill, said women who make the decision to have an abortion because of possible genetic abnormalities may not have the resources to care for the baby.
“Women should have a right to make a choice for themselves whether they want to have a child or not,” stated Williams-Barnes, as reported by the Associated Press.
“My concern is, you make the woman have the child that has these deficiencies, but yet are you going to give her any medical aid or home care assistance for the child?”
Photo courtesy: Pixabay/Public Domain
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
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