Alabama senate passes bill to ban abortion even in rape and incest cases

“Alabama is one signature away from enacting a near-total ban on abortions.”

The Alabama senate has passed a bill which, if the governor signs it into law, will ban abortion in almost all cases, including rape and incest. Abortions would become a felony offense, and doctors who perform an abortion face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The bill still needs to be signed by governor Kay Ivey, who is a Republican.

Under the cynically-titled Human Life Protection Act, "The only exception in the legislation is in cases where the life of the pregnant woman is at risk," report Nina Golgowski and Melissa Jeltsen at Huffington Post:

The bill passed on Tuesday, 25 to 6.

Before the vote, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected an amendment that would have allowed abortions for pregnancies caused by rape and incest.

The Alabama House passed the same bill late last month. If Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signs it into law ― she has not publicly made up her mind ― it would become effective within six months.

"Women in this state didn't deserve this," said Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton in a fiery speech on Tuesday evening. "The state of Alabama ought to be ashamed of itself."

PHOTO of Alabama State House, Montgomery, Alabama, by Jay Williams, CCBY20