South Dakota Reintroduces Abortion Ban With Stiffer Penalties Georgia abortion ban introduced earlier this year.

Operation Rescue ............   Press Release .....        Pierre, SD - Jan 31, 2007 Today the South Dakota House of Representatives once again introduced an abortion ban, but this time with harsher penalties. The new bill increases punishment for illegal abortion to a class 4 felony punishable by 10 years in prison.   Last year, South Dakota became the first state since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 to pass a near total ban on abortion, but the law was challenged by a voter referendum, where it was narrowly defeated because it did not include exceptions for rape and incest.   About 870 abortions take place in South Dakota every year, according to the most recent statistics listed with the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a pro- abortion organization that tracks abortion numbers. "We know that some in the pro-life movement will be opposed this legislation because of the rape and incest exceptions, but we believe that position is irresponsible," said Operation Rescue spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger. "A statistical analysis of abortions done in South Dakota indicates that if the current bill passes into law – even with the rape and incest exceptions – numerically it would allow only one abortion every four years. This means that over a four- year period, this legislation would save the lives of almost 3,500 children. To oppose this legislation would have to be considered 'pro-abortion.'"   Earlier this year, Georgia introduced a bill to ban abortion that contained virtually no exceptions.   "This bill is the ideal, of course, and we pray that the State of Georgia will successfully enact this law," said Sullenger. "In the meantime, Operation Rescue will continue to work on behalf of life until all pre-born babies in every state once again enjoy the legal protections of personhood, and the heinous act of abortion is brought to an end."   About Operation Rescue   Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation. Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.   Website: http://www.operationrescue.org   Operation Rescue Troy Newman President Phone: 316-841-1700  Operation Rescue Cheryl Sullenger Outreach & Media Coordinator Phone: 316-516-3034