New York legislators cheered and applauded Tuesday night after the state Senate removed restrictions on late-term abortions, allowing unborn babies to be aborted up until the day of birth.
The Reproductive Health Act passed with a 38-28 vote and was signed into law by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). "Today we are taking a giant step forward in the hard-fought battle to ensure a woman's right to make her own decisions about her own personal health, including the ability to access an abortion," Gov. Cuomo said.
The law erases New York's previous limitations on abortion which restricted the fatal procedure past 24 weeks. Supporters say those late-term abortions are being allowed in order to protect the lives of women, but pro-life advocates say that's just a ruse, pointing out that those late-term babies are clearly viable human lives who could otherwise survive outside the womb.
"RHA is an extreme bill sold to the public saying it merely 'updates' New York's law, which is far from true. RHA will expand abortion past 24 weeks through birth, make abortion a 'fundamental right,' and prohibit all limits, which Roe vs. Wade did *not* do," New York State Right to Life said in a Facebook post.
Christina Fadden, chair of New York State Right to Life explained further, "RHA has expanded abortion-on-demand in New York past 24 weeks – well past when unborn children feel pain, are viable, and suffer during the course of an abortion – and up to birth. This is inhumane."
The act states, "every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion."
The law also removes abortion from the definition of homicide and New York's criminal code altogether. Previously, New York law treated the murder of an unborn child in its the third trimester as a felony offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The RHA changes that. Instead, abortion will be regulated under public health law and a variety of medical professionals, not just licensed physicians, will be allowed to perform abortions without penalty.
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"Opponents say this limits prosecutors when they look to charge individuals who harm a woman's unborn child in a domestic violence case or otherwise. Supporters say, in such cases, there remain plenty of other, much harsher criminal charges at prosecutors' disposal," reports the Times Union.
New York Republicans and conservatives fought against the law but the measure sailed through the state Senate after Democrats won a majority in the Senate last November.
MORE: Stunned by NY's Late-Term Abortion Law? Well, Prepare to Be Stunned Again
Advocates say the new law will protect abortion even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. "With the signing of this bill, we are sending a clear message that whatever happens in Washington, women in New York will always have the fundamental right to control their own body," Cuomo said.
BELOW: Planned Parenthood NYC tweeted a video of the cheering and celebration of the sweeping expansion of abortion:
BREAKING: New York State Senate just made HISTORY and passed the Reproductive Health Act on the anniversary of #RoevWade! pic.twitter.com/u2diMzgSQW
— PPNYC Action Fund (@PPNYCAction) January 22, 2019
Pro-life activists are horrified by the New York abortion legislation.
"New York Senate cheers today for legalization of killing a baby old enough to born - poisoning a 6 month old to death in the womb & delivering her in pieces. This is the legacy of #Roe. It's time to end this barbarism," said Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action.
New York Senate cheers today for legalization of killing a baby old enough to born - poisoning a 6 month old to death in the womb & delivering her in pieces.
This is the legacy of #Roe.
It's time to end this barbarism. https://t.co/bWRAYQ53CI— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) January 23, 2019
Outspoken Christian and New Orleans Saints tight end Ben Watson also strongly condemned the law.
"It is a sad and evil day when the murder of our most innocent and vulnerable is celebrated with such overwhelming exuberance. We SHOULD be supporting and encouraging the building of families which are fundamental to any society. By not doing so, we invite consequences untold," he tweeted shortly after the law was passed.
It is a sad and evil day when the murder of our most innocent and vulnerable is celebrated with such overwhelming exuberance.
We SHOULD be supporting and encouraging the building of families which are fundamental to any society.
By not doing so, we invite consequences untold https://t.co/LOBRM0O2D5
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) January 23, 2019
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