Bill to likely ban all abortions advances in South Carolina

COLUMBIA (AP) South Carolina senators have advanced a bill that would likely ban all abortions in the state.

Local media report the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 Feb. 20 to advance a bill that says life begins at conception and at that moment, an embryo has all the rights as any other citizen.

The “personhood” measure now goes to the Senate floor. It was sponsored by Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant and endorsed by Gov. Henry McMaster, both of whom are seeking this year’s Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Similar bills have failed in other conservative states, and the measure has fallen short multiple times in South Carolina before.

The measure does not offer an exemption for cases of rape or incest. South Carolina already bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.