South Carolina House Passes Bill to Stop Mail-Order Abortions

After more than five hours of debate Wednesday, the South Carolina House gave overwhelming approval to H. 4760, the bill to stop mail-order abortion drugs from flooding into South Carolina and circumventing existing state laws that protect unborn children and their mothers.

By a vote of 81–31, largely along party lines, the House advanced the bill on second reading — a significant procedural step that typically signals likely passage on third reading. Following third reading, the bill will move to the South Carolina Senate for consideration.

“The abortion-inducing drug regulation bill crossed a significant legislative hurdle today in gaining passage on second reading,” said Lisa Van Riper, President of South Carolina Citizens for Life. “This means that women and their unborn children are one step closer to again experiencing the legal protections currently provided for them in South Carolina.”

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During debate, House members considered at least 19 amendments. Three amendments were adopted to strengthen the legislation, while the remaining amendments were tabled or defeated.

The bill strongly supported by well-established pro-life and pro-family organizations including South Carolina Citizens for Life, the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Palmetto Family, and the South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers.

In a letter to House members urging support for H 4760, Mrs. Van Riper wrote:

For more than 50 years, and often in opposition to the judicial overreach imposed by Roe v. Wade, South Carolina Citizens for Life has worked with elected officials to advance laws that protect both mothers and their unborn children. Together, we have made meaningful progress through legislation including the Parental Consent Act, Woman’s Right to Know Act, Abortion Clinic Regulations Act, Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, Safe Haven for Abandoned Newborns Act, Autumn’s Law, Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Ultrasound Act, 24-Hour Waiting Period Act, Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and most recently, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act.

These carefully enacted protections are now under threat from radical, out-of-state and out-of-country abortion drug traffickers. No one—regardless of where they reside—should be permitted to facilitate the unlawful killing of unborn children in South Carolina. Women and underage girls are increasingly encouraged to evade South Carolina law by obtaining abortion-inducing drugs through the internet and mail. This practice endangers women and their unborn children and undermines the sovereign will of the people of South Carolina as expressed through their elected representatives.

Many of the laws passed by the General Assembly include essential safeguards designed to protect women from abuse and misinformation by the abortion industry. These protections ensure medically accurate information about fetal development, abortion procedures, associated risks, and alternatives; disclosure of ultrasound results; a 24-hour reflection period; clinic safety standards; attention provided by physicians licensed in South Carolina; and an in-person medical examination prior to an abortion.

When women and girls obtain abortion-inducing drugs such as RU-486 from out-of-state and out-of-country providers through the mail, these safeguards disappear. As a result, the risks of physical, emotional, and psychological harm increase. Additionally, mail-order abortion drugs can be obtained by irresponsible men and used against pregnant women without their knowledge or consent, creating further danger and abuse. H. 4760 directly addresses these threats by protecting women, safeguarding unborn children, and preserving the integrity and sovereignty of South Carolina law.

LifeNews Note: Holly Gatling is the executive director for South Carolina Citizens for Life

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