This morning a baby died in Illinois. There was no obituary, no tears were shed, and no name was given. She was the victim of a dismemberment abortion, the most common abortion method used during the second trimester. In Illinois, abortion on demand is allowed until the third trimester. We know that babies begin to feel pain at around 20 weeks gestation. Consequently, she experienced excruciating suffering and physical pain as her fragile body was sliced to pieces. Until becoming unconscious or dead, she felt every cut.
But in Missouri, babies have hope that they might live. Under House Bill 126, which I sponsored and is now law, only medically necessary abortions are permitted. The law went into effect upon the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision by the Supreme Court. This decision upheld Mississippi’s prolife laws and effectively overturned the horrendous and legally incorrect Roe v. Wade decision, making states once again responsible for abortion policy. I am proud to have signed on to an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” brief in support of Mississippi’s position.
I would like to thank Gov. Parson for signing HB 126 into law and for immediately declaring the law in effect upon the Supreme Court’s ruling. I would also like to thank the legislators, activists, and individual Missourians who for 50 years have worked to make our great state a protector of the unborn once again.
Since Missouri’s new abortion law took effect, there have naturally been numerous questions about the specifics. I would like to share some information about some of details of the law and answer some of the most common questions.
(The following information was released by the House Speaker’s counsel, Julia Baker. She based the information on state statutes, mainly sections 188.010 to 188.375, RSMo. She notes that the information is not a guarantee of how a court would rule.)
• What are the exceptions to Missouri’s new abortion law? Only one exception is allowed, a medical emergency. That term is defined in Section 188.015, RSMo as: “(7) “Medical emergency”, a condition which, based on reasonable medical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert the death of the pregnant woman or for which a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman;”
• Is there an exception for rape or incest? No.
• Does this mean that birth control is banned? No. Traditional birth control such as pills or IUDs do not fall under the definition of abortion in our statute.
• What about Plan B or emergency contraception? The Plan B pill is not the same as an abortion pill. They are two totally different medications. Plan B is meant to prevent pregnancy by prohibiting ovulation or fertilization. It works like traditional birth control, just in a higher dose and administered after unprotected intercourse. Medical literature from a variety of sources states that Plan B will not terminate an already existing pregnancy.
• Can a woman be prosecuted for having an abortion? No.
• Who can be prosecuted and what are the penalties? Any person who knowingly performs or induces an abortion of an unborn child except in cases of medical emergency. The penalty is a class B felony as well as professional license suspension or revocation.
• Can a woman legally have a D&C (dilation and curettage) or D&E (dilation and evacuation) in the case of a miscarriage? Yes.
• Are mail-order abortion pills allowed? No.
• What about ectopic pregnancies? An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency since the life of the mother is definitely at risk. Thus, it falls under the only exception for abortion.
I have great empathy for the many women, including my mother, who have received abortions. It is a profound decision that undoubtedly affects them for the rest of their lives.
May God bless and keep you and our great nation.
Hardy Billington represents District 152, which includes parts of Butler and Dunklin counties.