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South Carolina Senate Votes to Reinstate Abortion Ban at Approximately 6 Weeks of Pregnancy

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BNN Correspondents
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South Carolina Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, speaks during a Senate debate on whether to pass a stricter law on abortion, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Columbia, SC. 
Image Credit: AP

Bill that prohibits most abortions after six weeks sent to the Republican governor for signing into law

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In a significant development, the South Carolina Senate has approved a bill that would impose severe restrictions on abortion access in one of the last strongholds of legal abortion in the U.S. South. The legislation, which prohibits most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy, has been sent to the Republican governor, who has expressed intentions to sign it as soon as possible.

The bill seeks to reinstate a ban that was enacted in 2021 but later overturned by the state's highest court due to violations of the state Constitution's right to privacy. The ban came into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year, creating a void in abortion regulations. South Carolina experienced a surge in abortion numbers following the Supreme Court ruling, as the previous ban was lifted, while other Southern states implemented stricter laws.

Abortion access is already heavily restricted or completely banned in many parts of the South. States such as Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia have enacted bans throughout pregnancy. Georgia allows abortions only within the first six weeks. Adding to this trend, North Carolina's Republican-controlled Legislature successfully overrode the Democratic governor's veto last week, thereby banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy starting from July 1.

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The approval of the bill in South Carolina sets the stage for an anticipated legal battle. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic has expressed its intention to file a request for a temporary restraining order after the bill is signed into law by Republican Governor Henry McMaster. It is widely expected that any challenge reaching the South Carolina Supreme Court will face a new bench, as the lone female justice who authored the leading opinion in the previous abortion case has reached the court's retirement age.

(Read Also: U.S. Senator Tim Scott Launches Presidential Campaign, Banking on Optimistic Message in Trump-Dominated Republican Party)

Unprecedented Threat to Abortion Rights in the U.S. South

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The passage of the strict abortion ban in South Carolina represents an unprecedented threat to abortion rights in the U.S. South, further limiting access to reproductive healthcare and potentially setting a concerning precedent for neighboring states.

(Read Also: Tim Scott, Republican U.S. Senator, set to officially announce White House bid)

 Implications for Women's Health and Reproductive Freedom

The impending implementation of the South Carolina abortion ban raises significant concerns about the impact on women's health and reproductive freedom. The legislation's severe restrictions risk denying individuals the right to make choices about their own bodies and could have far-reaching consequences for reproductive rights nationwide.

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