’Bama bill bans aborts

Only exemption is for health risk

An amendment to Alabama’s devastating abortion bill that would have provided exemptions in cases of incest and rape was voted down Tuesday.

The senate vote would make the deep-red state one of the most difficult for women to obtain an abortion if the bill becomes law.

The near-total ban passed easily Tuesday night by a 25-6 count.

The Human Life Protection Act bans all abortions statewide with the exception of it presented a serious health risk to women.

In 2018, voters endorsed an amendment that recognized “the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.”

Alabama Sen. Bobby Singleton, a pro-choice Democrat representing parts of seven counties, expressed his dismay at the vote.

“I would just like to say to all the women in the state of Alabama. I’m sorry,” he said late Tuesday night.

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth backed the bill with zero exceptions. He posted a video of himself on Facebook challenging the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision legalizing abortions.

“Abortion is murder,” says Ainsworth. “Those three simple words sum up my position on an issue that many falsely claim is a complex one.”

Alabama’s fetal heartbeat bill is targeted at doctors performing the operations. Physicians found guilty of the felony could receive up to 99 years behind bars.

State Democrats hold just only eight of the 35 state senate seats.

“You don’t have to provide for that child,” argued Democratic Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, who was against the bill. “You don’t have to do anything for that child, yet you want to make that decision for that woman. It should be that woman’s choice.”