Miss. governor signs mid-pregnancy abortion ban
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Wednesday signed a bill to ban abortion starting at the midpoint of a full-term pregnancy.
Supporters say it’s designed to protect women’s health, while abortion-rights advocates say it’s unconstitutional.
House Bill 1400, which becomes law July 1, will ban abortion starting at 20 weeks’ gestational age. That’s defined as 20 weeks since the start of the woman’s last menstrual period. A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks.
There are exceptions: Abortion would still be allowed at or after 20 weeks if the woman faces death or permanent injury because of the pregnancy. It would also be allowed in cases of severe fetal abnormality. However, the new law does not provide exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.
Washington Post
4/23/14
