South Carolina’s only Republican congresswoman wants to counter a state proposal that could result in women receiving the death penalty for having an abortion.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. recently introduced a bill that would allow anyone sentenced to death for having an abortion to bring a lawsuit against state officials. Mace’s proposal would designate the act of executing a woman for having an abortion as cruel and unusual punishment, which is prohibited under the U.S. Constitution.
“Executing a woman who chooses not to carry her rapist’s child to term is the very definition of cruel and unusual punishment,” Mace, who represents a Lowcountry congressional district, said in a news release.
The move comes after state Rep. Rob Harris, R-Spartanburg, a freshmen member who is part of the conservative Freedom Caucus, introduced a measure that would allow a person having an abortion to be punished like any convicted murderer, leading to sentences of 30 years in prison up to the death penalty.
Under Harris’ bill, if a woman is prosecuted for having an abortion, she could raise a defense if she was “compelled to do so by the threat of imminent death or great bodily injury.”
State legislative leaders, however, have said that it’s highly unlikely the bill will pass.
In fact, nine South Carolina House Republicans who had co-sponsored the bill have since withdrawn their support, according to an NBC news report.
In her push to secure women’s reproductive rights, Mace also recently filed legislation that would make buying contraceptives over the counter easier.
Citing counties in South Carolina that lack obstetricians and gynecologists, Mace told Meet The Press women having access to birth control is essential, especially in a climate where lawmakers around the country are banning abortions.
“Life is sacred and should be valued,” Mace said in the release. “Executing women goes directly against that belief. We should, for the American people, reject extremism on both sides of the aisle.”
_____
