The state of abortion in America
Image: Jonathan Drake/Reuters
On Saturday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed a bill that would ban most abortions in the state after 12 weeks, instead of the current 20-week limit. The move is widely expected to be overturned by North Carolina’s state legislature, where Republicans hold a veto-proof majority.
📝 Some quick background… After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, a 2019 NC law banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy took effect statewide. Then, last week, state Republicans approved a new measure that would narrow the legal window for abortions by an additional eight weeks.
The bill also carries two exceptions:
- In the case of rape or incest, abortion is allowed for up to 20 weeks.
- For “life-limiting” fetal anomalies, the window for abortions is extended to up to 24 weeks.
📸 Big picture: A total of 44 US states currently have laws on the books prohibiting most or all abortions after a certain point of pregnancy, per data gathered by the NY Times.
- 14 states ban abortions regardless of the length of pregnancy
- 1 state bans abortions after six weeks of gestation (Georgia)
- 4 states limit abortions to the first 15-20 weeks of pregnancy
- 10 states ban abortions after 22-24 weeks of pregnancy
- 15 states restrict abortions past the point of “fetal viability” – a definition that’s decided on a case-by-case basis, but typically refers to the period after 23-24 weeks of pregnancy.
In 2020, roughly 81% of all US abortions occurred within the first nine weeks of pregnancy, per the most recent CDC statistics. An additional 12% occurred between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy, 6% more took place between 14 and 20 weeks, and the final 1% occurred after that.
đź“Š Flash poll: In your opinion, what rules should be in place regarding abortion?
Legal anytime during pregnancy
Legal only in exceptional circumstances (rape/incest, health of the mother is threatened)
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that a national 15-week abortion ban is based on the false claim that a fetus can feel pain after that point, and would defy the will of the American public who mostly thinks abortion should be widely legal.
- Others contend that the question of abortion rights should be put to a proposition vote in all 50 states across America, rather than politicians unilaterally imposing their will on the electorate.
- “A national 15-week abortion ban would be a nightmare.” –LA Times Editorial Board
- “A Promising New Path to Protect Abortion Access” –NY Times Editorial Board
- “To say U.S. abortion rollbacks are in line with Europe is simply wrong” –Leah Hoctor, WaPo
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the US should enact nationwide laws restricting abortion to only the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, which they contend would reflect the norms widely seen across Europe and save thousands of babies’ lives.
- Others contend that Congress should follow the will of the American public and enact a federal 15-week abortion ban, citing public polling that shows a plurality of voters support such a law.
- “Congress Should Work to End Infanticide in America” –National Review Editorial Board
- “The Political Case for Federal Abortion Limits” –Marjorie Dannenfelser, WSJ
- “North Carolina's 12-week abortion ban is popular, enforceable, and pro-life without political poison” –Tiana Lowe Doescher, National Review
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