FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2022
Contact: Mary Owens, [email protected]
Science Shows Unborn Babies Feel Pain at Least as Early as 15 Weeks
Washington, D.C. – The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) celebrated today as the Arizona Legislature passed S.B. 1164, legislation to stop late abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The bill now heads to Governor Doug Ducey (R) for his signature.
Charlotte Lozier Institute, SBA List’s research arm, estimates that 896 abortions at 15 weeks’ gestation or later were performed on Arizona residents in 2020 (gestational age is not reported for nonresidents).
SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel praised Arizona lawmakers, saying:
“We are proud to see Arizona taking bold strides to stop cruel late abortions. The legislation passed today will save approximately 900 lives a year. Like the overwhelming majority of Americans who reject abortion extremism and support commonsense limits, Arizonans agree unborn babies should be protected from late abortions when they can feel pain, which science shows is at least as early as 15 weeks. We thank State Senator Nancy Barto, a member of our National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, and all our local allies who advocated tirelessly for this life-saving bill and we look forward to seeing it swiftly signed into law by pro-life Gov. Ducey. As we await the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case, we have great hope that all states will soon be able to modernize our laws and protect unborn children and their mothers.”
Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod, Esq., also stated:
“Preborn babies at 15 weeks gestation have fully formed noses, eyelids, and lips, as well as developing hearts, kidneys, and other organs. They suck their thumbs, and they feel pain. Today, those babies are one step closer to protection…a 15-week limit on abortion would not only save lives, it would protect women from the emotional and physical harms of later term abortion.”
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case involving a Mississippi law that limits abortion after 15 weeks, the Supreme Court will address whether all pre-viability abortion limits are unconstitutional. A decision is expected in the spring or summer of 2022.
SBA List is a network of 900,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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