RALEIGH — Rep. Ben Moss on Wednesday signed on as one of the primary sponsors of a bill that would ban most abortions in North Carolina.
House Bill 533, named the Human Life Protection Act of 2023, was introduced by Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, and co-sponsored by Moss, R-Richmond, and Rep. Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan.
The bill would prohibit abortions after conception — defined as “the act of using or prescribing an instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device, or means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant” — except in certain circumstances.
To be a legal abortion, it would have to be performed by a licensed physician and involve a woman who has a “physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless the abortion is performed or induced.”
The person performing the abortion would also have to provide “the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive unless, in the reasonable medical judgment, that manner would” create either of the following:
- A greater risk of the pregnant female’s death.
- A serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant female
The use of birth control devices and oral contraceptives are not considered abortions, nor are the following circumstances:
- to save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child;
- to remove a dead, unborn child whose death was caused by spontaneous abortion;
- to remove an ectopic pregnancy
It was not immediately clear Wednesday afternoon if use of the “morning-after pill” was considered an abortion.
Under the bill, violators would be charged with a Class B1 felony.
“If you are reading this, you have been blessed with the gift of life,” Moss said in a press release. “Every human life has value from the womb to the tomb, and I am thrilled to introduce this legislation that will defend the dignity and sanctity of every person.
“I will continue to promote a culture of life and ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, is given the chance to flourish and thrive.”
Current law allows abortions during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and illegal abortions are a Class H felony.
State lawmakers had a deadline of March 24 to respond to a lawsuit regarding North Carolina’s abortion pill restrictions.
Click here to read that story from the Carolina Journal.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
The Center for Reproductive Rights lists North Carolina as one of 12 states hostile to abortion after the SCOTUS decision.
Access was expanded in 10 states — including California, New York and Illinois — and protected in 13 states — including South Carolina. Abortion is not protected in Virginia, New Hampshire or Pureto Rico and is illegal in 12 states, including Tennessee, Texas and Missouri.
A recent poll from the Carolina Partnership for Reform shows that 45% of those surveyed consider themselves pro-life and 49% are pro-choice and the results were largely along party lines.
The poll also showed that 55% of voters oppose full abortion and 56% support a bill prohibiting abortions after the first trimester except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.
“Our polling showed that when voters describe themselves as ‘pro-life’ or ‘pro-choice,’ it means very different things to different voters,” the press release from CPR reads.
Those polled were also asked their positions based on a broader set of circumstances:
- Not legal in any circumstance
- Legal only in cases of rape, incest, or to protect mother’s life
- Legal only during the first trimester
- Legal until the 20th week
- Legal in all circumstances
The results were charted in the graph below.
