The South Carolina senate has voted to pass The Fetal Heartbeat Bill in an effort to ban most abortions in the state. Governor Henry McMaster has publicly stated that he is strongly in favor and will sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches him. I am petitioning to stop the passing of this dangerous bill that threatens the health and well-being of women. 

Should it become law, this bill would make all abortions illegal once a heartbeat has been detected. For most women, this point would come as early as five to six weeks into a pregnancy. I do not believe this allows sufficient time to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy, should a woman consider doing so.

Complications can arise during a pregnancy at any time, and many are fatal to the mother and the fetus. Safe, medically necessary abortions are currently performed to protect the lives of at-risk mothers or to save them from the mental agony of carrying non-viable pregnancies that won't make it to term. Sometimes these complications are detected early; sometimes they develop later into the first or second trimester. This abortion ban is unlawful and will threaten the health and safety of so many.