UPDATE, 8/13/20: Today, Nebraska lawmakers passed a ban on dismemberment D&E abortions by a vote of 33-8. Republican Governor Pete Ricketts is expected to sign the bill into law.
BREAKING: Nebraska lawmakers pass legislation banning dismemberment abortions.
— Catherine Hadro (@CatSzeltner) August 13, 2020
8/11/20: Near the end of July, pro-abortion Nebraska lawmakers blocked a vote on a bill to ban dismemberment (D&E) abortions. As reported by Live Action News, “While Senator Suzanne Geist (R), the sponsor of LB 814, appears to have the support of the majority of Senators, debate on the bill will only open again if she can secure 33 votes for a super-majority—a task that may be hard to do.” It appears that last week, those votes were secured, and the filibuster was overcome by a vote of 34-9.
The Associated Press reported on August 5 (emphasis added):
Lawmakers gave the measure first-round approval on a 34-9 vote after supporters broke through a filibuster led by abortion-rights supporters. Two additional votes are required before the bill goes to Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who supports it.
The bill would outlaw the use of clamps, forceps, tongs or scissors to perform what’s known as a dilation and evacuation abortion. Abortion opponents refer to the procedure as a dismemberment abortion because it often requires doctors to remove a fetus in several pieces.
Today, the AP reported that the bill “won second-round approval,” and will head to a final vote on Thursday. The media outlet writes, “Abortion-rights supporters said the bill is certain to face a court challenge and will likely get struck down as unconstitutional.”
READ: Abortionists describe impact of learning D&E abortions
Senator Megan Hunt of Omaha said attempts to ban the D&E procedure are “beneath the dignity of the work we are called here to do.”
Yet Geist, the bill’s lead sponsor, described the D&E abortion procedure as “barbaric” and “inhumane,” even while some of her Senate colleagues accused pro-life lawmakers of “playing doctor.”
Recent research has shown that children in the womb may feel pain by the end of the first trimester — well before previous claims that preborn children could not feel pain until 20 or even 24 weeks. “Overall, the evidence, and a balanced reading of that evidence, points towards an immediate and unreflective pain experience mediated by the developing function of the nervous system from as early as 12 weeks,” the researchers noted.
The dismemberment of a human being is not typically considered a medical treatment, and pregnancy is not a disease or illness. The animated video below, narrated by former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino, explains how the D&E abortion is done:
The AP noted that according to the Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood’s former research arm and special affiliate, D&E abortion procedures are used for “an estimated 95%” of abortions committed past the first trimester.
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