Two Abortion Bills Pass | Video

Jessica Roose | 3/15/2013

Abortions may soon be harder to get in North Dakota. This afternoon, the Legislature took a strong stance on the issue. Two bills restricting abortions passed this afternoon, but not before much debate from both sides.

When the session started, seven abortion bills were introduced; five in the Senate and two in the House. After crossover, six remained, and now two of those are one step closer to becoming law.

"Is it right to destroy life because of the perception that someone else`s standards as being acceptable to live?" asked Senator Margaret Sitte (R) from Bismarck.

House Bill 1305 bans abortions in cases of gender selection and genetic abnormality. The Minority Leader requested that those issues be discussed and voted on separately before the bill is considered as a whole.

"It would be best to leave these in here as they are, so that we don`t start determining which individuals make the cut," said Senator Spencer Berry (R) from Fargo.

Opponents argued that genetic abnormalities aren`t always compatible with life and a woman shouldn`t be forced to carry a child to term. Some even sharing a personal story.

"I can`t think of anything more cruel than for the state to require that first pregnancy to be carried to term and then to watch my grandchild die on the delivery table," said Senator John Warner (D) from Ryder.

Still, Senators voted to keep that section in the bill, along with the other dealing with abortions due to gender.
Some argued that it won`t be possible to know if a woman is aborting due to gender without knowing what she is thinking.

"You`re going to have to come back here in a different session and you`re going to have to make rules to figure out what`s in that woman`s mind. What are we going to do? Hypnosis? Polygraph testing? Other ways, torture?" How are we going to find out what is inside her mind?" asked Senator Connie Triplett (D) from Grand Forks.

The bill passed 28 to 15.

The Senate also passed a bill banning abortions after a heartbeat is detected. Both bills now go to the Governor for consideration. Four more abortion-related bills are still waiting for a final vote.

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