Mississippi to Ban Abortions after 20 Weeks

According to this article, the Mississippi legislature passed a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks on Tuesday. Pro-life Governor Bryant has already stated that he intends to sign the bill. The bill prohibits abortions after 20 weeks gestation, but contains exceptions allowing late-term abortions in cases where the mother faces death or permanent bodily injury or where the fetus has severe deformities.

This news is good from a practical perspective. Restrictions on abortion means more lives saved. We should take every bit of ground we can and save as many lives as possible. Of course, we should also press on in order to stop all abortions. The babies at 20 weeks gestation are no more human than those at earlier stages of development. We aren't done until every human life is protected.

Not only does this law fall short by only protecting humans after 20 weeks, but I would have liked to see the exceptions removed, especially the one for fetal deformities. If human beings are protected under the law at 20 weeks, their physical disabilities should be irrelevant. We don't kill born people for having a disability, or even a fatal condition. Why should the unborn be any different? Their lives may be shorter or more difficult than others, but we have no right to cut their lives short - either before or after birth.

All human life is equally valuable and should be equally protected by law. But in a country where, sadly, many do count worth by age, ability, and stage of development, and where the law is currently allowing millions of the unborn to be killed, this is a step in the right direction. For that reason, I'm proud of Mississippi (my former state) for taking this step. May the rest of country follow suit.