South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 19 weeks, making it the 17th state to pass a law banning abortions that early. South Carolina’s law makes no exceptions for rape or incest.
Haley has yet to issue a statement on the new law, which immediately took effect after she signed it. Twenty-week bans are currently in place in 13 states and blocked by legal battles in three others.
The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether banning abortions at 20 weeks is constitutional, but with these restrictions snowballing they’re likely going to be forced to weigh in soon.
Haley at a press conference earlier this month. Photo via AP