Though it is too soon to say for sure, it seems times are a-changin’ when it comes to abortion and respect for the life of the unborn.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, just signed into law a strict pro-life bill that was sponsored by a fellow Democrat state senator.
The Associated Press reported that the law bans abortions after the 15th week of a pregnancy, though its implementation is contingent on federal courts upholding a similar law that was recently passed in Mississippi.
But that’s not all…
The law, which was sponsored by Democrat State Sen. John Milkovich, will not only ban abortions after week 15, but will also impose a two-year prison sentence on anyone who performs the procedure after that time. There would not be any criminal penalties for the mother receiving an abortion.
Milkovich called the legislation a step in the right direction toward his ultimate goal of banning all abortions in the state.
“We thank and commend our pro-life governor for signing this bill and once again taking a stand for life,” the pro-life Democrat remarked. “This is an important step forward in Louisiana’s fight to protect the unborn.”
Mississippi passed a similar 15-week abortion ban in March — though it does not include any criminal penalties — but it was immediately challenged in court. The Louisiana legislature passed a resolution earlier this month urging the state’s attorney general to file a brief in support of that Mississippi law.
A pro-life Democrat
According to The Hill, Gov. Edwards is a self-described “pro-life Catholic” who has signed other pro-life bills in the past, including one that placed a three-day waiting period on obtaining an abortion following the initial appointment.
The president of the pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List, Marjorie Dannenfelser, praised Edwards for signing the bill that will protect unborn babies after 15 weeks of gestation.
“We thank all pro-life lawmakers in Louisiana — especially pro-life Democrats like Governor Edwards and State Senator Milkovich for passing this legislation,” Dannenfelser said. “They followed through on their pro-life principles and united across party lines to protect unborn children.”
She later remarked that the state of “Louisiana is leading the way in the bipartisan effort to bring our nation’s laws into line with basic human decency.”
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Abortion rights advocates were incensed by the passage of the new law, but it remains unclear if they will file legal challenges against it, or concentrate their efforts on the similar law in Mississippi that is already being challenged.