South Dakota just passed one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. The new law requires anyone getting an abortion in the state to visit a pregnancy center before having it performed.
The legislation, which passed easily in a state Legislature where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 3 to 1, also establishes the nation’s longest waiting period — three days — after an initial visit with an abortion provider before the procedure can be done.
Many states require counseling from doctors or other clinic staff members before an abortion to cover topics like health risks. What makes the new South Dakota law different is that the mandated counseling will come from people whose central qualification is that they are opposed to abortion.
The new law, HB 1217, is the first of its kind in the nation. As near as I can determine, there is no exception for rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life and health. Moreover, many of these clinics are unlicensed and unregulated. The Argus-Leader reports that Planned Parenthood and the ACLU already plan to file a preliminary injunction.
Things like this are why I no longer consider myself pro-life.
In a burning press release, Planned Parenthood calls this flagrantly unconstitutional.
“The voters of South Dakota, by resounding margins at the ballot box, twice have told their legislators that the decision to have an abortion is between a woman, her family and her doctor and that government should not intrude on that decision,” said Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. “We know that women reflect, talk with friends and family, and consult with pastors and their doctors before making this difficult decision. This bill intrudes on those relationships, shows contempt for women and disdain for voters’ wishes.”
Stoesz also points out that a whopping 87 percent of pregnancy centers give false or misleading information about abortion. And that's for the whole nation--hard to imagine what the percentage is just in South Dakota. It's probably a lot higher than that, since there is only ONE abortion clinic in the entire state.