RETRACTION: South Carolina DID NOT approve abortions in rape, incest cases

Yesterday, TheState.com reported that South Carolina lawmakers in Columbia rejected a proposed ban on abortions in their health plan in every case except when a mother’s life is in danger. However, that information was incorrect and we apologize for repeating it.

According to numerous reports, South Carolina lawmakers accepted the ban for abortions to be covered in their health care plan. Lawmakers specifically pointed out that abortions should be covered in cases of rape and incest to give women who become pregnant in those situations the choice. However, the vote approved the plan without concessions for rape and incest victims by a 57-54 margin.

Arguments were debated on both sides.

Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter made the argument that women had a right to choose what they do with their bodies. She counsels women in her professional career and stated that those in favor of the ban were saying they know what should be done better than the woman who has been raped.
However, Wendy Nanney, a female representative from Greenville argued in favor of the ban. She said that women do not have a right to take the life of their child. Even in rape or incest, the child, she says is a gift.
However, Representative Lester Branham disgreed. Branham, a retired pastor from Lake City, argued that there is a difference between a gift and a crime. Rape and incest, he said, are crimes.
“That act of impregnating that girl against her will is not a gift of God,” Branham said. “It’s a crime. It’s a crime against her and a crime against all humanity in my opinion.”

Again, we apologize for the misinformation.

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