{"id":244676,"date":"2021-06-14T18:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T23:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=244676"},"modified":"2021-06-14T18:23:26","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T23:23:26","slug":"bill-down-syndrome-abortions-nc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/bill-down-syndrome-abortions-nc\/","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina House and Senate pass bill to ban Down syndrome abortions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UPDATE 6\/14\/21<\/strong>: The North Carolina Senate passed<\/a> House Bill 453, the Human Life Non-Discrimination Act, which bans abortion based on the baby’s sex, race, or disability, including Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

“Children should not have to pass a genetic test to earn the right to be born,” said<\/a> State Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R). She added that the bill would prevent “modern-day eugenics.”<\/p>\n

The law will now go to the desk of Gov. Roy Cooper who is expected to veto it, according to The Daily Signal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5\/9\/21:<\/strong> House lawmakers in North Carolina passed a bill last week that would prohibit “eugenic abortions,” which are classified as those due to race or a disability, like Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

House Bill 453<\/a>, the Human Life Non-Discrimination Act\u00a0passed<\/a> the full House on Friday in a 67-42 vote, according to the Associated Press.\u00a0Under the terms of the bill, any physician who commits an abortion knowing that it is due to race or Down syndrome will face monetary penalties.<\/p>\n

READ: Arizona governor signs bill with multiple pro-life provisions, bans abortion for Down syndrome<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of the bill’s supporters have been lobbying in support of the bill throughout the legislative process, including families with loved ones who have Down syndrome. The bill is also backed by the North Carolina Values Coalition, which has launched a campaign urging pro-lifers to contact their state representatives. \u201cThis bill is not a sham,\u201d Julie Scott Emmons, a representative from the NC Values Coalition, told the Associated Press<\/a>. “It actually places a hedge of protection around an entire class of human beings who should not have to pass a genetic test to earn the right to be born.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Pat McElraft, spoke of the bill’s importance. \u201cIt\u2019s time to face the issue head-on and ensure that every little North Carolinian is protected from discrimination before and after birth,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n