Opponents of S.D. Abortion Ban Seek Vote

[Judi Lynn]

Opponents of S.D. Abortion Ban Seek Vote
Friday March 24, 2006 4:46 PM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Opponents of South Dakota's new ban on nearly all abortions began a petition drive Friday to let voters decide its fate.

The law, among the strictest in the nation, is scheduled to take effect July 1 but will automatically be placed on hold if opponents collect the 16,728 signatures necessary for a voter referendum.

A coalition of groups opposed to the law have until June 19 to collect the signatures. The secretary of state's office received initial paperwork signed by a lead opponent, Dr. Maria Bell.

The new law bans abortion in all cases except when necessary to save a woman's life, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The measure was aimed at sparking a court fight that supporters hope will lead to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established the right to an abortion.

Opponents argue the law is too extreme.
(snip/)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5708708,00.html

[Unleash_the_Backlash]

1. Very smart ...

Great idea for keeping the case out of the court system.

I wish them luck. I wish I lived in South Dakota so I could sign.

[Moderator]

2. Please update the headline to the full title of the story

Opponents of S.D. Abortion Ban Seek Vote

[Judi Lynn]

3. Sorry, Moderator, didn't notice it was incomplete. Thanks. n/t

[Zynx]

4. If they can pull off a popular defeat of this law that would be great.

Letting the courts decide it would not have the same effect as one of the reddest of the red states voting it down.

[Scurrilous]

5. South Dakota Indian Tribe Will Open Abortion Business

Full Title: South Dakota Indian Tribe Will Open Abortion Business if Ban Becomes Law

<snip>

"A South Dakota Indian tribe is throwing a monkey wrench into the state's plans to ban virtually all abortions in the state. Should the ban become law, one tribe says it will open up an abortion business on their tribal lands, which wouldn't be subjected to the abortion ban.

Cecilia Fire Thunder, president of the Oglala Sioux tribe of South Dakota, says Sioux nation sovereignty means the new ban doesn't apply. As a result, she said she will lead an effort to build a Planned Parenthood abortion center at the Pine Ridge Reservation.

“To me, it is now a question of sovereignty,” she told Tim Giago who runs a web site called Indianz.com.

“I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction," Fire Thunder said."

more

[robbibaba]

6. Not sure why, but reading this makes me happy.

[NoGOP]

8. Wonderful!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Blust8]

7. This is a very smart thing to do

Because even in South Dakota, this measure will probably pass. In that case, "activist judges" cannot be blamed for it--although conservatives will probably make an excuse for the vote if they lose it..such as bad weather, evil feminist intervention, etc :-p

[mac56]

9. Why do you think it will pass?

Are you from SoDak?

And why do you think its passage makes this a "smart thing to do"?