Two alarming abortion bills are making their way through both the Senate and House of New Mexico as pro-abortion lawmakers seek to end all restrictions on abortion in the state, as well as all conscience protections for medical professionals.
On January 26, Senate Bill 10 passed the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee in a 5-3 vote along party lines. It will now move to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill aims to repeal a 1969 statute that prohibits abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s life. When Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, the statute became meaningless. If the statute is repealed, abortion would remain legal up until birth for any reason, even in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Senate Bill 10 would also end conscience protections for medical professionals, which currently prevent them from being forced to commit or participate in abortions against their will, and would allow non-doctors to commit abortions.
“Though some of the existing law is unenforceable because of Roe v. Wade, this statute contains important provisions that protect our doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals,” said state Sen. Gregg Schmedes. “As a medical doctor, I have heard from many of my colleagues that if they lose these vital conscience protections, they will consider leaving the state which would threaten healthcare access for many New Mexicans.”
READ: SHOCK: Documents from New Mexico facility reveal dozens of late-term, healthy babies aborted daily
New Mexico is home to one of a handful of late-term abortion facilities in the country, Southwestern Women’s Options. The abortionists at this facility are currently being sued for the death of 23-year-old Keisha Atkins, who was six months pregnant when she visited the facility for an abortion.
According to KRQE News, pro-lifers were present outside the Roundhouse prior to the hearing, and pro-life senators spoke out against the bill. According to the Associated Press, the bill will pass because 25 of the 42 state senators have signed on as co-sponsors. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham supports the bill and is expected to sign it. Opponents say this will cause harm to women and girls.
“In addition to keeping the conscience clause intact, we should be working to strengthen, not weaken standards of care for women,” said state Sen. Crystal Diamond. “The thought that a non-physician would be allowed to perform a dangerous, late-term abortion on a minor child without parental knowledge is unconscionable. That is the type of scenario we are exposing women to if this bill passes.”
House Bill 7, the House version of SB 10, was heard before the House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, January 27. According to New Mexico Alliance for Life, the bill passed in a final vote of 8-3, with self-proclaimed pro-life State Rep. Phelps Anderson voting in favor of the pro-abortion bill.
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