Editor’s Note: Furthermore, Rite Aid has indicated that it will facilitate the delivery of abortion pills via the postal service.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina. (Thursday, 2 February 2023) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in informing Walgreens and CVS that the pharmacies’ announcement to distribute the “abortion pill” is “unsafe and illegal”.
In a press release from his office today, General Wilson stated, “The use of the mail to take human life is reprehensible.” The use of chemical abortifacients, which are a cocktail of poisons designed to kill the developing foetus, carries a significantly higher risk of complications than surgical abortion. Furthermore, the distribution of abortion pills, particularly by mail, renders coerced abortions considerably more accessible.
CVS and Walgreens have recently announced their intention to seek FDA certification to sell abortion pills via the mail. This information was made public in a press release.
In accordance with the South Carolina Abortion Clinic Regulations, all women seeking an abortion are required to be seen in person and examined by a qualified physician. The state’s three free-standing abortion facilities are subject to regulation by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
In a statement released by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Cristi Moore, the department’s Chief Communications Officer, clarified that while the department does regulate certain substances, including narcotic drugs, the abortion drug mifepristone is not considered a controlled substance.
According to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) on abortions performed in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, approximately 75% of all abortions in the state were induced chemically. The majority of abortions are conducted at two Planned Parenthood facilities in Columbia and Charleston, as well as at the Greenville Women’s Clinic, a private abortion business.
The attorneys general’s letter to Walgreens and CVS cautions that “Federal law expressly prohibits the use of the mail to send or receive any drug that will be used or applied for the purpose of producing abortion.” The Biden administration is accused of “ignoring the law and overstepping its authority,” according to a press release. “For this reason, I am informing these companies that we will take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the law should there be any violations,” General Wilson stated.
The attorneys general conclude their letter by stating that it is their responsibility as State Attorneys General to uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children in their state.
The other states include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
Please note that this is a developing story. Please be advised that further updates will be provided in due course.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
