PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday banning nearly all abortions in South Dakota, setting up a court fight aimed at challenging the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
The bill would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman's life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest.
Planned Parenthood, which operates the state's only abortion clinic, in Sioux Falls, has pledged to challenge the measure in court.
Rounds issued a written statement saying he expects the law will be tied up in court for years and will not take effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court upholds it.
"In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them," Rounds said in the statement.
The governor declined all media requests for interviews Monday.
The Legislature passed the bill last month after supporters argued that the recent appointment of conservative justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito have made the U.S. Supreme Court more likely to overturn Roe v. Wade.
South Dakota's abortion ban is to take effect July 1, but a federal judge is likely to suspend it during a legal challenge.
Rounds has said abortion opponents already are offering money to help the state pay legal bills for the anticipated court challenge. Lawmakers said an anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to defend the ban, and the Legislature set up a special account to accept donations for legal fees.
Under the new law, doctors could get up to five years in prison for performing an illegal abortion.
Rounds previously issued a technical veto of a similar bill passed two years ago because it would have wiped out all existing restrictions on abortion while the bill was tied up for years in a court challenge.
The statement he issued Monday noted that this year's bill was written to make sure existing restrictions will be enforced during the legal battle. Current state law sets increasingly stringent restrictions on abortions as pregnancy progresses. After the 24th week, the procedure is allowed only to protect the woman's health and safety.
About 800 abortions are performed each year in South Dakota. Planned Parenthood has said other women cross state lines to reach clinics.
-------------------- "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE U.S./CHINA CONNECTION"
posted
I'm sure this ruling will be tied up in litigation for years...
There's one thing pro-abortion people have never been able to answer me on -- if the baby or fetus or whatever you want to call it is not a living human until it's born, why is it not OK to kill it up until the day it's born?
I don't understand this kind of hypocrisy in the pro-abortion camp.
-------------------- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth -- Proverbs 27:1
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quote:Originally posted by Gordon Bennett: Nobody is "pro abortion." They are only against the State telling a woman what to do with her own body.
Simple.
I believe at the point of conception it's a living, growing life. Science has proven that. The baby/fetus has no choice when the doctor sucks it out with the razor-blade vacuum.
My question is, most people who believe in the legalization of abortion think it's wrong to abort a fetus at 7-9 months, but don't think it's wrong up until the sixth month. Why?
Their whole argument is that it's not a human until it's born, well, if that's the case why not make it legal to abort at 9 months? What difference does it make?
-------------------- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth -- Proverbs 27:1
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posted
it would be much better to have women perform the abortions themselves...or some "back-alley" doctor...or just toss it in the dumpster..does anyone really think that by banning abortions that will stop women from having them?
posted
No, I don't think banning them will stop them, but it's more of the principle of the matter.
I think a nation that does not allow people to murder innocent, helpless humans will be blessed by God. I can't imagine God is very happy with babies being carved out of the womb.
You could make the same argument for rape... rape is illegal but it still happens so we should just legalize it and not worry about it, right?
As with rape, I believe abortion is a violation of a helpless, defenseless life.
-------------------- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth -- Proverbs 27:1
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posted
Team Sleep, I have wondered the same thing. A human life is what it is at any age. I'm glad this is going to court, it's going to get ugly, and I hope we can come up with a compromise that works. Abortion should not be used as a form of birth control, yet making it illegal will only recreate the black market, back alley abortion scenario. Is it possible that presenting women AND men with workable options (sex education, abstinance, safe birth control, etc.) could help to make abortion a nearly non-issue?
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quote:Originally posted by Gordon Bennett: Attempting to legislate morality is idiotic.
Really? Why have any laws on moral issues? Drugs, murder, rape, robbery, those are all moral issues.
Any act that involves the mind, will, and emotions can be classified as a moral issue. Doing drugs is a moral issue. It's a choice of the will and emotions. Blowing somebody's brains out is a moral issue. Many murderers kill because they have no moral conviction against it.
Same with robbery... i.e. Enron. Those thugs had no moral conviction against lying and scamming, that's why they did it and that's why they are spending millions to prove they're right. So why even prosecute them since "legislating morality is idiotic"?
-------------------- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth -- Proverbs 27:1
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quote:Originally posted by Team Sleep: No, I don't think banning them will stop them, but it's more of the principle of the matter.
I think a nation that does not allow people to murder innocent, helpless humans will be blessed by God. I can't imagine God is very happy with babies being carved out of the womb.
You could make the same argument for rape... rape is illegal but it still happens so we should just legalize it and not worry about it, right?
As with rape, I believe abortion is a violation of a helpless, defenseless life.
By that same warped logic, masturbation should be illegal as well right? I mean come on, each one of them little sperms has the spark of life right? So each time you "choke the chicken", your committing mass murder by your logic.
-------------------- It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.
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posted
Abstinence is a joke in most cases, and as long as safe birth control and sex education are discouraged or banned by fundamentalist idiots, abortions will continue.
Perhaps everyone who would stand in the way of a woman's right to choose should be forced to adopt that woman's child.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
Abstinence is a joke in most cases, and as long as safe birth control and sex education are discouraged or banned by fundamentalist idiots, abortions will continue.
Perhaps everyone who would stand in the way of a woman's right to choose should be forced to adopt that woman's child.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
Didn't Jesus caution against an eye for an eye?
Yep.
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:38-42
quote:Originally posted by Team Sleep: I am for the death penalty when that form of punishment fits the crime.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
[/QUOTE]By that same warped logic, masturbation should be illegal as well right? I mean come on, each one of them little sperms has the spark of life right? So each time you "choke the chicken", your committing mass murder by your logic. [/QB][/QUOTE]
I said conception. Maybe you should re-read your 6th grade health book to understand the difference between conception and a puddle of sperm.
-------------------- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth -- Proverbs 27:1
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posted
Abstinence wouldn't be such a joke if our society didn't try to make it one in it's mission to use sex as a selling tool (quite effectively, I might add). And you're right, sex education and safe birth control would be more readily available and used if funamentalists didn't have such a widespread 'my way or go to hell' approach. It's the forest for the trees, until we realize that we're all different and what works for some doesn't make sense to others. It ain't rocket science, but it sure seems to get complicated.
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quote:Originally posted by Gordon Bennett: You're foavoring of the death penalty is in direct opposition of the teachings of Jesus.
Taking scripture out of context is not proving your point here... Christ was talking about forgiveness and bitterness in that passage.
His message in that passage that no matter how a person hurts or offends us, we're expected to forgive and not hold a root of bitterness against that person.
This has nothing to do with CONSEQUENCES. While we are all commanded to forgive, there is no scripture in the Bible that commands against consequences for our actions.
God is loving and forgiving, but there are always consequences for our wrong doing. And while we are commanded to forgive those who murder or rape, we are not commanded to withold consequences for the act.
-------------------- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth -- Proverbs 27:1
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quote:Originally posted by LEO: Abstinence wouldn't be such a joke if our society didn't try to make it one in it's mission to use sex as a selling tool (quite effectively, I might add). And you're right, sex education and safe birth control would be more readily available and used if funamentalists didn't have such a widespread 'my way or go to hell' approach. It's the forest for the trees, until we realize that we're all different and what works for some doesn't make sense to others. It ain't rocket science, but it sure seems to get complicated.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
ADVOCATING education and abstinence wont work for the little ghetto kids who run the streets looking for fun...tell the brother to use a condom?...aint gonna happen. sex will happen and thousands of unwanted kids will be born everyday.
quote:Originally posted by jordanreed: ADVOCATING education and abstinence wont work for the little ghetto kids who run the streets looking for fun...tell the brother to use a condom?...aint gonna happen. sex will happen and thousands of unwanted kids will be born everyday.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
quote:Originally posted by Team Sleep: No, I don't think banning them will stop them, but it's more of the principle of the matter.
I think a nation that does not allow people to murder innocent, helpless humans will be blessed by God. I can't imagine God is very happy with babies being carved out of the womb.
You could make the same argument for rape... rape is illegal but it still happens so we should just legalize it and not worry about it, right?
As with rape, I believe abortion is a violation of a helpless, defenseless life.
By that same warped logic, masturbation should be illegal as well right? I mean come on, each one of them little sperms has the spark of life right? So each time you "choke the chicken", your committing mass murder by your logic.
Hey, yeah! And let's add taking a hot bath and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, since both kill off millions of the little critters.
Then there's jockey shorts!
If God had meant for you to have warm nads he'd a took care of it naturally.
Which brings up a question.
If god hadn't meant you to use your mind to figure out how to control things, then why'd he give you all that creativeness?
Don't we know that an unused mind looses grey matter. It's been proved.
Think, man!
Don't we believe everything here was set up by god when he made all this?
He knew!
You weren't meant to stagnate in the intellect of the 0th century! He planned this.
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quote:Originally posted by jordanreed: ADVOCATING education and abstinence wont work for the little ghetto kids who run the streets looking for fun...tell the brother to use a condom?...aint gonna happen. sex will happen and thousands of unwanted kids will be born everyday.
I would like to see all three tried at the same time before assuming that it won't work. Smart people live in the ghetto, too.
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posted
I don't "support" that, but I hope you'll agree that it's preferable to a coat hanger or poison induced abortion, which would be the only alternative for many women if Roe V. Wade were to be overturned.
quote:Originally posted by Team Sleep:
quote:Originally posted by Gordon Bennett: Murder is murder. You can't have it both ways.
If you truly believe that statement, how could you support babies being sucked out of wombs with razor-blade Hoovers?
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
That's right. It's not a class or a race issue.
quote:Originally posted by LEO: I would like to see all three tried at the same time before assuming that it won't work. Smart people live in the ghetto, too.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
As far as the death penalty goes, it is not an eye for an eye, There is a thing called justice, and the Holy Scriptures let us know the difference. Our God is a God of justice.
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