Nine South Carolina Republicans had supported the most extreme anti-abortion proposal in the nation. They have since pulled their support for the measure, which proposes to apply the state’s murder laws to those who have abortions.
Since its January introduction, the legislation had 24 co-sponsors (all Republicans) but lost support from nine of these people in recent weeks.
In February, Reps. Kathy Landing & Matt Leber were among the first to withdraw support.
Leber was also one of the first Republicans to back the measure in January. He told NBC News that he had decided he could not support the bill’s current language and realized that it wasn’t likely to pass.
Leber stated that “in its current form, it is impossible to keep my name on” the document. “I would not want to prosecute or accuse women in any way, that’s never been my philosophy regarding pro-life issues.”
Although the bill was referred to state House Judiciary Committee for consideration, it has not yet been considered. Leber stated that party leaders made it clear that the bill was “dead on arrival” and would not reach the House floor.
“It was my intention that I offer amendments. He said, “Clean it up.” “It isn’t what I stand for, the language in this bill right now.”
The bill began to receive more national attention in March. The bill began to get more national attention in March.
Two weeks after adding his name to the sponsor list, Rep. David Vaughan withdrew his support Monday along with Reps. Fawn Pealino Brian Lawson, Randy Ligon, and Patrick Haddon.
Vaughan sent NBC News a text message in which he stated that he had removed his name because he didn’t believe that a woman who has had an abortion should be prosecuted. I also signed that bill in Error
The bill was withdrawn by Rep. Mark Willis on the following day. On Thursday, Rep. Brandon Guffey was the latest Republican to be removed from the sponsor list.
Guffey stated in a Facebook posting that he was pro-life, but that this includes the life and health of the mother.
Guffey stated that he was optimistic that a bill that would ban abortion in South Carolina would be passed this session, but that he couldn’t support the current version.
Guffey stated, “My view is that abortion should not be used for birth control.” “I don’t believe that a woman should die because she has an abortion.”
Guffey stated that he didn’t realize the bill contained language suggesting that an individual could be subject to the death penalty for having an unplanned pregnancy.
He said, “I had read it but didn’t click on the link to the code that stated that a woman should be given the death penalty.”
The six remaining legislators, Pedalino Landing, Lawson Ligon, Haddon, Haddon, and Willis, withdrew their sponsorship. They did not respond to our requests for comment.
Jordan Pace, Rep., attacked media reports and opposition that he claimed have “overblown” the death penalty component of the legislation. He claimed that there was no chance that someone would be charged with the crime and face the death penalty.
Pace stated in an interview that “that is such an absurd fallacy.” “A lot people making this claim clearly haven’t read the bill.”
He said, “I believe it’s perfectly appropriate to protect everyone, regardless of their location, size, shape, or location, equally under law.” “So, it is homicide if one person intentionally kills another person.
The South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act would “ensure an unborn child victim of homicide is afforded equal treatment under the homicide laws.
Under South Carolina law, people with murder convictions can face the death penalty or a minimum of 30 years in prison.
, the Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey stated on Twitter, that the bill “has no chance of passing.”
Rep. Rep. Rob Harris, the legislator who introduced the legislation, didn’t respond to a request of comment.
Rep. Nancy Mace (Republican from South Carolina) — who has criticised her party for ” showing compassion on abortion” and said it has made it harder to appeal to most Americans who support it — lambasted legislators in her state for supporting the bill.
Mace tweeted Thursday, “It is deeply troubling to me as both a woman (and a victim) of rape to see that some people in my home state want rapists more rights” “I don’t know why, but it’s not pro-life to execute a woman seeking an abortion after she’s been raped.
South Carolina currently allows abortion up to 20 weeks after conception. However, it has repeatedly tried to pass stricter laws banning abortion.
Governor Henry McMaster signed the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act into law. This prohibited abortion after six weeks, with some exceptions. Henry McMaster, a Republican in 2021.
The South Carolina Supreme Court revoked the ban in January. It ruled that it was in violation of a state constitutional right.
The South Carolina Senate passed a ban on abortion last month. It bars most abortions within six weeks, and allows states to prohibit contraception.
It also repeals the 1974 law prohibiting abortion. The bill states that a woman who gives birth to an abortion “mayn’t be criminally prosecuted” if she violates its provisions. It also says that the abortion is exempt from any civil or criminal penalties.
