WASHINGTON – Tuesday evening, the North Carolina legislature voted to override pro-abortion Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of SB20, the Care for Women, Children, and Families Act.
The Senate voted 30-20 to override the veto and the House followed with their vote to override the veto with a vote of 72-48.
“Our hope is that this law, which allows for unlimited abortions for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, will save precious lives,” stated Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life (NRL). “We know that 90% of all abortions take place before 12 weeks of pregnancy and we will continue working for the day when all innocent human life is protected.”
“North Carolina has taken steps to protect some babies and North Carolina Right to Life is thankful whenever a child is saved,” said Bill Pincus, M.D., president of North Carolina Right to Life. “The fact remains that 99% of abortions are performed on healthy women, carrying healthy babies and the vast majority of abortions occur before 12 weeks. In every case of an abortion, a baby dies. If abortion is healthcare as they claim, exactly what disease are we treating?”
According to North Carolina Right to Life, National Right to Life’s North Carolina affiliate, the Care for Women, Children and Families Act:
protects babies from chemical and surgical abortion after 12 weeks except allowing abortions for rape and incest up to 20 weeks. It also allows abortion for “life limiting anomalies” up to 24 weeks. The 46-page document defines chemical and surgical abortion, as well as giving a thorough list of complications from such medical interference.
The Bill maintains the 72-hour waiting period, expands informed consent standards for women, ensuring that attestations are signed and understood, and it gives women the right to sue under the laws of the State if she feels she has been coerced or misled prior to obtaining an abortion.
For those seeking chemical abortion, they must be examined in person by a physician to check gestational age and risk of ectopic pregnancy. It specifies that chemical abortions are limited to 70 days (10 weeks) or less, gestational age as per the current FDA recommendations.
The bill also contains conscience protections for those whose conscience will not allow them to participate in the killing of unborn children.