Since the summer shutdown of Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion went back to the states to determine.
Some states put in place trigger laws to go into effect after the demise of Roe. However, other states determined they needed to hash it out in their own legislatures to select the best route to go.
Some outcomes are turning out to be more surprising than others. In South Carolina, for instance, a total abortion ban was proposed. However, it received enough pushback in the Senate to block the measure from going through.
According to Newsmax, various Republican lawmakers were key in preventing a bill fully banning abortions from making the cut.
An Interesting Turn of Events in South Carolina
GOP Sen. Tom Davis, along with other Republican lawmakers, including all female Republicans and South Carolina Democrats, made it clear he wouldn’t be on board with an abortion ban that doesn’t permit incest and rape exceptions.
Davis, specifically, claimed that his conversations with his daughters motivated his choice in this matter.
The compromise proposed by Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey would ban abortions from conception except for rape/incest victims up to 12 weeks pregnant, fatal fetal anomalies, and to save the life/health of the mother.
— Seanna Adcox (@seannaadcox_pc) September 8, 2022
After the Republican state senator heard from his daughters that they believe women lose control of their bodies upon pregnancy, Davis claimed he wouldn’t be voting for a bill without the exceptions.
Furthermore, GOP Sen. Katrina Shealy gave a speech on the legislature’s floor, ultimately expressing her opposition to an abortion ban without incest and rape exceptions.
The end result of all of this was Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey admitting the chamber didn’t have the votes to pass a measure lacking the two exceptions.
More Battles to Come?
It’s inevitable that other states will follow the lead of South Carolina in having to determine abortion laws in their state legislatures.
Earlier this year, Kansas shocked much of the nation when a ballot initiative to amend abortion allowance in the state’s constitution was soundly voted down.
Take 4 minutes to watch South Carolina State Sen. Katrina Shealy (R) respond to the legislature removing exceptions for rape and incest in the state’s proposed abortion ban.
“I think you’re miscommunicating with God, or maybe you’re just not communicating with him at all.” pic.twitter.com/cUNDgfORl3
— The Recount (@therecount) September 7, 2022
Blue states, meanwhile, have vowed they’re going to expand access to abortion as a means of countering abortion restrictions in red states. California, for instance, is supposedly going to become a so-called “sanctuary state” for women seeking abortions.
With the midterm elections coming up, abortion is believed to be a key policy that will determine how people vote. It’s definitely got Democratic voters energized, as indicated in various polls.
Republicans, however, maintain that Democrats aren’t going to be able to ride the coattails of Roe’s overturn into winning the midterms. With the November elections getting closer, both parties are hard at work to ensure victory.
Are you surprised that the South Carolina Senate voted against a total ban on abortions? Do you believe other legislatures across the United States will follow suit? In the comments area below, let us know what you think comes next.
This article appeared in The Conservative Brief and has been published here with permission.
