S.D. Mulls Ban On Nearly All Abortions

Bill Would Allow Exceptions For Rape, Incest; Anti-Abortion Activists Hope Law Will Challenge Roe V. Wade

(AP)  A bill to ban abortion introduced Wednesday in the South Dakota state House of Representatives would allow exceptions for rape and incest, but only if the crimes are reported to authorities with DNA evidence.

People who oppose abortion hope the measure becomes the vehicle for a legal challenge to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which legalized abortion broadly across the United States except in the last months of pregnancy.

A South Dakota bill passed last year contained an exception only to save the life of a woman. A petition campaign forced that bill onto the ballot and voters rejected it in November by a margin of 56 percent to 44 percent.

Opponents of the legislation have said the issue was settled in the November election and lawmakers should not have revived it.

This year's bill would allow rape victims to get abortions if they report the rapes to police within 50 days. Doctors would have to confirm the report with police and would have to take blood from aborted fetuses and give that information to police for DNA testing.

In the case of incest, a doctor would have to get the woman's consent to report the crime along with the identity of the alleged perpetrator before an abortion could be performed. Blood samples from fetuses would have to be provided to police in incest cases, too.

Abortions could be done only until the 17th week of pregnancy in cases of incest and rape.

One of the 25 sponsors, Republican state Rep. Gordon Howie, said the rape and incest provisions are strict to ensure that women do not say they have been victims in order to obtain abortions.

The bill carries a tougher maximum penalty for illegal abortions than last year's bill — 10 years in prison instead of five.

It would allow abortions to save women's lives and in cases in which their health would be seriously jeopardized by a continued pregnancy. However, a doctor could perform an abortion only if a doctor from another practice concurs that a woman's health is in jeopardy.

In Utah, a state House committee voted 6-2 on Tuesday to ban abortion, setting the stage for a costly legal battle if the bill clears the Legislature and is signed into law. The committee sent the measure to the full House.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said the bill likely is unconstitutional and if it becomes law could be costly to defend against any legal challenges.

In the November election, abortion-rights supporters prevailed in defeating two other state ballot measures — parental-notification requirements in Oregon and California.

In several other states, including Oklahoma and Texas, conservatives are pushing new bills that would outlaw abortion in the event Roe vs. Wade is overturned.

The federal election in November eased abortion-rights groups' concerns about the prospect of the Supreme Court overturning the Roe decision. The newly Democratic-controlled Senate could ensure that any vacancy on the Supreme Court over the next two years would be filled by a supporter of abortion rights.

[randalds]

Pro-choice now. Pro-choice tomorrow. Pro-choice always. I don't know why these people insist on shoving their biblical beliefs down everyones throat. This is a medical decision between a woman and her doctor and no "god" or it's supposed representatives here on earth have any dam*ned right to stick their noses in where it doesn't belong. They can tap dance around all they want, but they can't change the fact that it is a matter of religious belief as to when life begins and a matter of medical expertise as to when a fetus is viable. Their religious opinion does not count and never should. Religion has no place in this argument at all.

[random_radar]

Both sides of the abortion issue acknowledge that the stage is set for Roe versus Wade to be overturned. Both sides are gearing up to fight the battle state-by-state.

But why has the pendulum swung from pro-choice to pro-life over the last three decades? Maybe it is because the pro-lifers have been raising their kids to oppose abortion. On the other hand, the supporters of abortion...didn't have kids.

It is uniquely ironic that over time the practice of abortion eliminates its constituency so that its opponents carry the day. If you want to maintain a woman's right to choose, then encourage women to have more kids and teach them to be pro-choice!

[condumism]

South Dakotan's need to get rid of their worthless conservative legislature that spits in their of democracy by bringing up this ridiculous legislation over and over agoin. Fundamentally ill christians, which make up biggest cult in the Regional Republicon Party remain,and always will be, the SCUM of the USA!

[dallison7]

ANOTHER GIANT STEP BACKWARDS INTO DARKNESS.

[nothappyatall]

"Pro-choice now. Pro-choice tomorrow. Pro-choice always. I don't know why these people insist on shoving their biblical beliefs down everyones throat."

Exactly RandallDS, these right winger jesus freaks INSIST on foisting THEIR religious krap and propaganad on the rest of us, overtly, covertly, in your face, in the media, thru laws and more. It's time to YANK the tax exempt status of churches NOW as their non-profit status is dependent upon their not being involved with POLITICS and what they are doing is involving their church with it's violent history of death, bloodshed, subversion, bigotry and mind-rot into OUR laws and lives.
I frankly am sick and tired of it- religion is for idiots who are emotionally WEAK and need a crutch to lean on and a magical Santa Claus in the sky to "forgive" them and given them purpose.

[red1530]

The bill as proposed now looks good to me in terms of exceptions.

[mrvolleyba11]

the far right once again FORCING their religous belief on 300 million Americans!!! what happened to seperation of "church and state"? the anti-abortion aurgument is based SOLEY on a religous belief, the belief that life starts at the moment of conception. It should be struct down EVERYTIME just because of this fact of seperation of church and state.

Why they can just practice it themselves without forcing all 300 million of us to do the same is beyond me???

Everybody needs to me e-mailing all of their state and federal congressmen/congresswomen demanding that this stop!!!

When the right-wingers take in all the current unwanted (foster) children in America then they can say something.

[cantshutup]

THE DRAFT IS HERE. Universal Nat'l Service Act of 2007.
NOT TO ALARM YOU OR ANYTHING. Just passing this along.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/
query/z?c110:H.R.393:

Universal National Service Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)
HR 393 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 393
To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the favorable treatment afforded combat pay under the earned income tax credit, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2007

[acauble1]

Attention!

I just want to make this clear to those who are anti-abortion:

You CANNOT call yourself "pro-life" if you believe in capital punishment, (the death penalty).

If you oppose abortion but support capital punishment, you are PRO-BIRTH... not pro-life.

Thank you.

[dallison7]

If you oppose abortion but support capital punishment, you are PRO-BIRTH... not pro-life.

Thank you.
Posted by acauble1 at 12:54 AM : Feb 01, 2007


I have to respectfully disagree. The corect term would be anti-abortion... not pro anything.

[dallison7]

The neocon mentality is baffling. Anti-abortion, but pro war. We need all of those unwanted children to fight our wars.

[nativewoman]

What no one seems to be noticing here is that the voters already rejected a similar proposal by a wide margin.

This new legislation merely points up the fact that some factions wish to ignore the wishes of the voters.

Why even have elections or votes if the will of the people is to be ignored time after time?

[gunownerdan]

CHRISTIANS WILL TAKE AMERICA BACK
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
to the Dark Ages.

[skyk-2009]

We need to REALLY pay attention to our OWN Religious Extremist folks. These people in the Religious Reich have a very LONG, Bloody and stained history that would make Bin Laden and his people blush. Sure they have cleaned themselves up some and have taken off the Sheets but if you listen to them and watch them, you will find that under it all they have NOT changed. They still feel they are superior and anyone who does not agree with their narrow views of Religion and Politic's are not worthy of life. You can't just change a law or two and think they are now our Moral Guide, especially when you KNOW that 80% of their Ministers belong to the Klan... that was the figure the last time the FBI had track of them. No folks we need to take care of business behind our OWN door before we start telling folks in other countries to do the same.

[exusmcsgt]

One thing I have always found to be absolutely disengenuous about "believers" is that their dogma teaches them to be tolerant yet they are always showing absolute intolerance against perspectives that don't jibe with their manual.

If they don't wish to have abortions, no one is forcing them to do so. But they feel the need to change the law to force everyone to subscribe to their perspective.

Some tolerance, eh?

[exusmcsgt]

Speaking of disengenuous "believers", I note that although they reject science and subscribe to myth, mysticism, and miracles, they want a cardiologist instead of a Priest, Rabbi, Imam, or Pastor when suffering a heart attack......

[gowalum]

We need to ban abortion. It is the killing of 3,000-4,000 children everday. We need to promote other alternatives and outlaw ALL abortions which includes rape because no child should be killed even if their father is a rapist. The father should get double the prison time instead of having the baby die. Babies are 100% alive from the moment of conception. They develop from conception until natural death. We can't allow this awful act of millions of living children being killed through abortion.

[exusmcsgt]

Gowalum-

Freedom of religion means freedom from religion as well, preacherman.

If you and your ilk don't wish to have abortions, no one if forcing you to do so.

Neither will you and your ilk force everyone else to subscribe to your beliefs. Keep them to yourself.

If the rest of us wanted to follow your dogma, we would. You will not force us to do so.

[grumpas]

I am so tired of these people I could scream! It would be nice if they got some kind of a life, other than trying to shove their religious belief's down a nation's throat! But, it's like someone here said. We need to start paying more attention to the Christian nut cases we have here at home! They have become as big a threat to our way of life as Muslim Extremist's have! I don't know what it is about religion that brings out the worst in a lot of these folks? But, they don't seem to have a gram of respect for anyone else's belief's but their own!

[exusmcsgt]

I don't know what it is about religion that brings out the worst in a lot of these folks? But, they don't seem to have a gram of respect for anyone else's belief's but their own!
Posted by grumpas at 09:39 AM : Feb 01, 2007

Exactly why I call religion "intellectual slavery". People stop thinking for themselves and allow others to do their thinking for them in exchange for a warm fuzzy......

[legendary240]

Finally! A state with guts and convinctions en masse to stand up against this subsidized murder-for-profit industry! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Religion has nothing to do with whether or not murder is wrong! It's the same thing as giving live birth , taking a look at the child and saying; "Nah, I don't think I like this one." Then telling the OB-GYN to dispose of it.

All of you who think it so wonderful should go to your nearest clinic and ask to sit through several abortions and get in there real close so you can see the child moving.

If you still think it's just a dandy thing after that, then you know that you are just as sick an individual as Dahmer was.

[legendary240]

especially when you KNOW that 80% of their Ministers belong to the Klan... that was the figure the last time the FBI had track of them.
.......by Skyk

That's just pure fabrication.

[exusmcsgt]

especially when you KNOW that 80% of their Ministers belong to the Klan... that was the figure the last time the FBI had track of them.
.......by Skyk

That's just pure fabrication.
Posted by legendary240 at 09:49 AM : Feb 01, 2007

The 80% figure probably represented the ministers who are buying prostitutes and meth.....

[slclark0029]

Whether anyone likes it or not, No matter how you, I, or the next guy votes...Abortions will continue to take place, whether legally done, or illegally done.
Reason being....There will ALWAYS be unwanted pregnancies, Sadly, There will ALWAYS be pregnancies as a result of rape, And, There will ALWAYS be screwed up situations that lead to pregnancies as a result of incest.
Outlawing the after effect isn't going to matter.
You can't just outlaw abortions, and expect them to stop.
If you think you can stop rapes and incest from taking place....AND....If you think you can stop people from having un-protected ***.....Then..
"GO YOU!!" :)
That would lead to a MAJOR decline in abortions.
All I have to say to you now, is...Good luck With that!
Because, you, I, and the next guy, CAN NOT control what goes on behind closed doors in homes all across america.

[cmp271]

I have extra coat hangers, should I send them to SD? What a backwards state. For that matter, it is time for Abortion to stop being a political football and become a medical procedure. It is a private matter, not a public or political one. It isn't anyones business if a woman has to have one. It needs to be legally obtainable for anyone. Politics needs to focus on other things. I will always vote for the candidate who supports it.

[legendary240]

One thing I have always found to be absolutely disengenuous about "believers" is that their dogma teaches them to be tolerant yet they are always showing absolute intolerance against perspectives that don't jibe with their manual.

Where in the Bible does it tell believers to be tolerant? Loving people is not the same thing as passively sitting quiet while someone does an evil thing. So, you would expect a believer to sit quietly and tolerate a crime taking place against someone? No, you'd accuse them of being an accomplice. If they said; "No, I was being tolerant." You'd want them thrown in jail. So would I! You have a right to agree with abortion and I have a right to disagree. So why do you have to attack the person at such a personal, and demeaning way? Someone's beliefs are their OWN - I don't attack yours. If you want to believe in God, Jesus and the Bible, I applaud you, of course! If you don't believe, then I still would love you and be your best neighbor. I can't hate anyone - I used to before I became a believer.

[legendary240]

Do any of you know what it means when the Bible says; "you are the salt of the earth"?

One day you will.

[legendary240]

But, they don't seem to have a gram of respect for anyone else's belief's but their own!
Posted by grumpas at 09:39 AM : Feb 01, 2007

So...your belief system is medically-assisted murder? That is the point of this article.

[exusmcsgt]

legendary240-


"Turn the other cheek" is not a reference to tolerance? Then what IS it a reference to?

And no, I would not sit by and just be witness to a crime without intervening.

Abortion is not illegal, ergo, it can not be classified as a "crime", however.

You "believers" are always trying to categorize what you consider to be a "sin" as a "crime".

Sins and crimes are not one in the same thing except in your convoluted way of thinking.

[spike121954]

It's about time that a state stands up against MURDER. Abortion is the taking of a life! Liberals want to call it "a womans choice", but murder is murder, no matter what label you put on it. All of you liberals have fun responding, but YOU WILL ONE DAY ANSWER FOR YOUR CRIME!!!! Too bad that pro abortion people were not aborted, then we would not have the problem that we have now. I'm a boomer, I'm not a right wing christian, I just call abortion what it is... MURDER! Again liberals, have fun responding with your ignorant responses.... YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR MURDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[slclark0029]

And for the record, I also believe that every single woman in this world has the right to decide what she wants, whether it be abortion, adoption, or raising a child.
And why should her decision even really matter to those of you who oppose abortion?
In all reality, it's not your problem, or your business, now is it??

[legendary240]

Whether anyone likes it or not, No matter how you, I, or the next guy votes...Abortions will continue to take place, whether legally done, or illegally done.
Reason being....There will ALWAYS be unwanted pregnancies, Sadly, There will ALWAYS be pregnancies as a result of rape, And, There will ALWAYS be screwed up situations that lead to pregnancies as a result of incest.

Apply that same logic to other crimes - murder, for instance. Since there will always be people who will kill other people, let's just make it legal so the murderer won't have to feel so ashamed about it.

Since there will always be people who just have to rape a woman, let's just legalize that. Also, if we just throw away all that makes us a civilized society then no one will ever have to feel guilty, dirty or ashamed about anything. Neat idea! You really swayed me with your logic.

[exusmcsgt]

For your edification, spike121954,
Merriam-Webster defines "murder" as:

"the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought"

and "embryo" as:

"something as yet undeveloped"

Not a "person".

Learn your language and you won't make such gaffes in the future.

[exusmcsgt]

legendary240 -

Your analogy doesn't fly. You try to extrapolate something that is not a crime to acts that are crimes.

Absolutely bogus.

[oleander8]

"YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR MURDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Posted by spike121954 at 10:05 AM : Feb 01, 2007

IF there is a god - when it comes to murder, mayhem, and world destruction -- he has got a lot of explaining to do.

Keep your bible out of our laws - it's only one book - in fact it is only a book.

[legendary240]

"Turn the other cheek" is not a reference to tolerance?

No it is not. What it is referring to is when you are being persecuted for your beliefs and making someone hate you enough to attack you -STAND FAST and don't run away! Take it like Jesus did, BUT Jesus NEVER tolerated sin and sat silent.

You see the Bible is not a cluster of grapes, you can't just pick one here and there.

Trust me on this - when in the near future you all are beheading us or hanging us, you will not have to chase me down to do it. You won't have to bind me or fear that I will resist and attack you. You can simply snuff me out.

But until the day that God gives all of you unbelievers over to satan to do such a thing, you'll have to keep hearing the truth.

Jesus gave His life at the hands of people who were like you in order to save people like you. I have broken every one of the Ten Commandments, Did I Murder? I sure did, I sent the woman I having an illicit relationship with to the abortion clinic in 1988 to save my scrawny neck from being wrung by her husband. That's what kind of guy I was. But it was John 3:16 that defines my life now.

You all speak of things you do not know about. Every day I look at my kids and I know there is one missing that I will never see again until I die. I sent my child to be killed. How can a man live with that without the forgiveness of God?

He that has the Son (of God-Jesus)has life, he that does not have the Son, does not. Who do you have?

[exusmcsgt]

Keep your bible out of our laws - it's only one book - in fact it is only a book.

Posted by oleander8 at 10:21 AM : Feb 01, 2007

It is a ideological "how to" manual. Nothing more.

[slclark0029]

I dont care if I swayed you with my logic or not.
I dont feel I need to sway anybody.
Its simply my opinion, just like you have yours, so deal with it.
And, we are not talking about murder and other crimes, we are talking about abortion.
Murder, by the way..isnt a choice, or an option like abortion is. Murder is a totally different subject.
And if your goal is to make women feel guilty, dirty, or ashamed for their decicions...It's NEVER going to happen.

[legendary240]

The dictionary is only one book - infact, it is only a book.

Look up the definition of REDEEMED. I LIKE THE DICTIONARY TOO!

[exusmcsgt]

I dont care if I swayed you with my logic or not.

Posted by slclark0029 at 10:26 AM

Personally, I have found that logic has little impact on religous zealots. They, by definition, reject logic in favor of "faith".

[exusmcsgt]

legendary240

Merriam-Webster defines "reedeemed" as:

" to buy back "

I've never sold myself, hence, I have no need to be "bought back".

You obviously have sold yourself if you feel the need to be "redeemed".

Next?

[legendary240]

It is a ideological "how to" manual. Nothing more.
Posted by exusmcsgt at 10:26 AM : Feb 01, 2007

Gunnie, you ought to use the manual then. If I am wrong then when I die I will have lost nothing. If you are wrong and die you have lost it all. That would be a shame. Jesus loves Marines.

[oleander8]

"....Every day I look at my kids and I know there is one missing that I will never see again until I die. I sent my child to be killed. How can a man live with that without the forgiveness of God?..."
Posted by legendary240 at 10:25 AM : Feb 01, 2007

Religion is your crutch that helps explain the unexplainable to fearful people.

[legendary240]

Sarge, Faith was added to my logic, it didn't replace it, it enhanced it. Yes, you do need to be redeemed - Born again.

[exusmcsgt]

If I am wrong then when I die I will have lost nothing.

Posted by legendary240 at 10:34 AM : Feb 01, 2007

I disagree. You and your fellow believers lose the luxury of independent thought and reason throughout your entire existence.

You are told how to think, what to believe, and what to do.

If that's not enslavement, I don't know what is.

You can enslave yourself if you choose, but I will be free.

[legendary240]

Religion is your crutch that helps explain the unexplainable to fearful people.
Posted by oleander8 at 10:37 AM : Feb 01, 2007

No, it's better than a crutch - it's LIFE! A crutch is something a man picks up and leans on. A relationship with Jesus Christ occurs when a man is picked up and held close in his Creator's arms. I'm not leaning - I'm being carried.

He wants to carry you too if you'll simply believe.

[exusmcsgt]

Sarge, Faith was added to my logic, it didn't replace it, it enhanced it. Yes, you do need to be redeemed - Born again.
Posted by legendary240 at 10:37 AM : Feb 01, 2007

Let me ask you about your logic, then.

Logic tells one that the origins of our planet occurred 3.5 billion years ago. A fact that can proven time and time agin through scientific methodology. Archeology, radio-carbon dating, etc., etc., etc.

Your manual says the planet is only 6,000 years old.

Which to you believe to be the case?

[exusmcsgt]

A relationship with Jesus Christ occurs when a man is picked up and held close in his Creator's arms. I'm not leaning - I'm being carried.

He wants to carry you too if you'll simply believe.
Posted by legendary240 at 10:42 AM : Feb 01, 2007

I haven't had the need to be carried since I learned to walk.

[grumpas]

legendary240! We are talking about a blob of gelatinous material here! It would be nice if you freaks got that basic fact through your thick heads! And quit trying to hold American's to your bibical standards! Your definition is that it's life! That is not mine and it won't ever be! I was raised by two ultra Christian parents to believe it is morally wrong to bring an unwanted child into this world for any reason! If you didn't want children you used birth control! But, I see some of you freaks are trying to outlaw that too! You are trying to limit access to birth control! If it is murder then I am the one who is going to have to live with it! Not you! So, get your moralistic traditions out of my bedroom! I am getting good and fed up with people like you! You are doing religion more harm than you ever will good!

[legendary240]

That's freedom? The absolute inability to be touched in your inward most heart and see how precious a life, all life is? Bind me in chains even tighter then if that's the reward of freedom. Apart from Jesus Christ, there is no freedom - only bondage to sin. That doesn't mean you are not a great guy who loves people, and I am sure you do. It's impossible to convey the love of God to someone until God Himself, through His Holy Spirit awakes the person's spirit that they may "hear" the Truth. I am praying that God does that for you Jarhead! Semper Fi - Jesus is semper fi too!