MISSOURI — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country into law Friday, paving the way for a court challenge that could overturn Roe v. Wade. The Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act criminalizes abortions after eight weeks, before many women know they’re pregnant, and threatens anyone who performs the procedure with up to 15 years in prison. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. The law will go into effect Aug. 28.
“It’s time to make Missouri the most Pro-Life state in the country!” the governor wrote on Twitter earlier this month. “As other states like New York and Virginia venture further away from the American ideal to protect and uphold the #RightToLife, I’m honored to lead a state with so many people who are committed to standing up for those without a voice.”
Protesters filled the state capitol in Jefferson City one week ago as lawmakers approved the bill, chanting “vote no now” and “shame, shame, shame.”
On Tuesday, abortion rights advocates rallied in St. Louis and across the country to protest a slew of anti-abortion measures in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia and elsewhere.
In addition to banning abortion after 8 weeks, Missouri’s law would ban abortion on the basis of race, sex or a Down syndrome diagnosis, require both parents to be notified before a minor can receive an abortion, and increase state funding to pregnancy resource centers that discourage abortion. It would also double the amount of medical malpractice insurance required by doctors performing the procedure.
The law does offer one exception, for medical emergencies, but it places “the burden of persuasion” on doctors to prove a woman’s life is in danger before performing the procedure, according to the Associated Press. If a doctor is unable to prove a medical emergency, they could be charged with a felony, lose their license and go to jail.
“Gov. Parson has put the health and lives of Missouri women at risk in his race to make our state the one that overturns Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court. The vast majority of Missourians oppose attempts to undercut Roe and do not want politicians interfering in the doctor-patient relationship. These bans on safe, legal abortion will have real costs — expensive legal costs and human costs for the women and families who need reproductive health care,” said M’Evie Mead, director of Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri. “At a time when maternal mortality is increasing in our state, we must be doing everything we can to increase access to health care — not cut it.”
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Abortion rights groups have vowed to challenge the ban, but the law is designed to survive being struck down in the courts. Even if the 8-week ban is ruled unconstitutional, the law would automatically raise the limit to 14, 18, and finally 20 weeks. In addition, if Roe v. Wade is overturned — as many anti-abortion advocates hope it will be — the bill will automatically ban all abortions in the state.