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S.D. Governor Signs Abortion Ban Into Law By CHET BROKAW, Associated Press Writer
PIERRE, S.D. - Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday banning nearly all abortions in South Dakota, setting up a court fight aimed at challenging the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
The bill would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman's life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest.
Planned Parenthood, which operates the state's only abortion clinic, in Sioux Falls, has pledged to challenge the measure in court.
Rounds issued a written statement saying he expects the law will be tied up in court for years and will not take effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court upholds it.
"In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them," Rounds said in the statement.
He declined all media requests for interviews Monday.
About 800 abortions are performed each year in South Dakota. Planned Parenthood has said other women cross state lines to reach closer clinics.
The bill would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman's life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest.
Planned Parenthood, which operates the state's only abortion clinic, in Sioux Falls, has pledged to challenge the measure in court.
Rounds issued a written statement saying he expects the law will be tied up in court for years and will not take effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court upholds it.
"In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them," Rounds said in the statement.
He declined all media requests for interviews Monday.
About 800 abortions are performed each year in South Dakota. Planned Parenthood has said other women cross state lines to reach closer clinics.
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The percentage of U.S. residents who took abortion rights seriously, and who described themselves as actively feminist has declined recently because the memories of far worse conditions in the 70s are a distant memory. Many people don't even realize the bad conditions for women in most countries outside the U.S. and recognize what feminism has done, nor do nonrural people often realize how difficult it has become for women to access abortion in rural and southern areas due to intimidation of doctors, and cost.
But 70-80% of the public favors allowing abortion under some circumstances, and they will need to deal with this. Even my 79 yr old father who became conservative a few years ago took his literacy student who is a mail-order bride from Burma to a planned parenthood clinic for an abortion, so she could continue to establish herself so she could get a divorce. That means everyone with any resources should also be able to provide transportation plus $$ aid. More organized people need to work out how to match people who need help with those willing to give it without risk of abortion protesters hurting them.