Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Wednesday signed legislation banning abortions beyond 20 weeks gestation. The bill takes effect July 1.
“Medical research shows that an unborn child can feel pain by not later than 20 weeks gestation, and research also shows that the risk of death and complications from an abortion increases significantly as a pregnancy progresses,” said Bryant in a statement.
The bill does not apply when carrying a pregnancy to term would threaten the health or life of the mother or in cases where the unborn child is determined to suffer from fetal abnormalities so great that life outside the womb is not viable. It does not include exemptions for rape or incest.
Abortion activists slammed Bryant and the legislation.
ICYMI: #Mississippi enacted a blatantly unconstitutional abortion ban yesterday: http://t.co/vMLzT8M6Ja via @Tara_CR
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) April 24, 2014
BREAKING: Mississippi Gov. Bryant has just signed a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, with zero exceptions for rape/incest. More info to come.
— Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) April 23, 2014
Mississippi Governor signs law that determines a woman is pregnant before she is pregnant. http://t.co/Sb9RUkDsaS
— Lizz "Human Capital Stock" Winstead (@lizzwinstead) April 24, 2014
The war on women rages on from the "small govt" crowd. "@thinkprogress: Mississippi just enacted a blatantly unconstitutional abortion ban"
— janey v. ❄ (@nycjaneyvee) April 23, 2014
More attacks on women's health in MS: 'Country’s harshest anti-abortion law signed in Mississippi' http://t.co/lQEmMW2YAm
— Ms. Foundation for Women (@msfoundation) April 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/TajMagruder/status/459443205365178368
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@msnbc which will cost MS voters millions in litigation to ultimately be ruled unconstitutional. $ MS needs,possibly the neediest state
— JD (@jdofnminar) April 24, 2014
Whenever I fly to different states, I'm acutely aware of what rights I don't have if I were to get pregnant. #HumanRightsShouldntVaryByState
— Leah Torres, MD (@LeahNTorres) April 23, 2014
@msnbc Duh. That's unconstitutional. Even #EaryRayTomblin had the sense to not sign a like-bill in WV.
— Just Stop (@StopTheMethWV) April 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/BulldogLover4U/status/459446509545988096
@msnbc These "small government" politicians love using gov to control a womans body. #waronwomen
— Eric Stamps (@ericstamps) April 24, 2014
Abortion ban after 20 weeks, with NO exceptions for rape or incest. Mississippi. What. Are. You. Doing.
— Kristen Caruana (@kristencaruana) April 23, 2014
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