On April 23, Governor Phil Bryant signed a sentiment declaring abortions in Mississippi at and after 20 weeks gestation illegal.
This notion is highlighted within House Bill 1400, and will go into effect July 1, 2014.
HB 1400 states a physician is required to determine gestational age prior to performing or attempting an abortion. In cases where carrying a child to term seriously threatens the life of child or mother, the bill does not apply.
In a press release, Governor Phil Bryant said the day of bill signing presented an important time to protect the health and safety of unborn children and women in Miss.
“Medical research shows that an unborn child can feel pain by no later than 20 weeks gestation, and research also shows that the risk of death and complications from an abortion increases significantly as a pregnancy progresses.”
According to the Pew Research Center, a growing regional divide in opinions about abortions include 75 percent of New Englanders that say abortion should be legal, while 40 percent of South Central states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas) agree as well. Many states have enacted new abortion restrictions in recent years, and challenges to several of those laws are making their way through the courts.
Barney Rowland, senior graphic design major, said she doesn’t have a specific stance in the case of abortions,  but like some people, can understand its necessity and gift of choice for women.
“I’m not for abortion, but I do understand some circumstances where it is necessary such as rape and health problem,” Rowland said.
The National Center for Health Statistics stated 4,317,119 babies were born in the U.S. in 2007. According to the health statistics, half of the pregnancies in the U.S. were unintended. Of the unintended pregnancies, four out of 10 were aborted. Approximately 1.21 million abortions occur each year in the U.S. The U.S has the highest abortion rate of the western industrialized nations.