Jackson, MS (LifeNews.com) -- Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, says he will sign a measure that bans virtually all abortions in the state should it make its way through the legislature and reach his desk. A state House committee approved the ban on a wide margin.
The measure would prohibit all abortions except in very rare cases when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. It does not allow exceptions for abortions in cases of rape or incest -- something Barbour says he favors.
"It hasn't gotten to my desk yet. When one gets there, we'll find out, and I suspect I'll sign it," Barbour told the Associated Press.
"But I would certainly rather it come to my desk with an exception for rape and incest. I think that's consistent with the opinion of the vast majority of Mississippians and Americans," he added.
Haley is right. Though I would vote for a measure that only gave the life of the mother as an exception, the VAST majority of people in this country would not. So I would accept the other exceptions, if that is all we could get, and in MOST states that is all. I would require that it be cases of REPORTED rape or incest, though, or it becomes as meaningless as the 'health of the mother' exception has been.