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North Carolina Republicans override Democratic governor and put 12-week abortion ban into effect
Travis Long/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

North Carolina Republicans override Democratic governor and put 12-week abortion ban into effect

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina dealt a crushing blow Tuesday evening to pro-abortion radicals, overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a pro-life bill.

Whereas before, North Carolina permitted abortions well into the second trimester, the lethal procedure is now prohibited after 12 weeks.

TheBlaze previously indicated that the law allows various exceptions — abortions are permitted through 20 weeks for pregnancies resultant of rape or incest and during the first 24 weeks if the baby has a "life-limiting anomaly."

The law also protects abortion survivors; protects unborn babies from discrimination based on sex, race, or Down syndrome; ensures women are not rushed or coerced into unwanted abortions; and provides $160 million in support for children, families, and maternal health, including $75 million to expand access to child care.

Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 20 Saturday, claiming that the measure's "fine-print requirements" as well as "restrictions will shut down clinics and make abortion completely unavailable to many women at any time, causing desperation and death."

The Democratic governor was counting on "just one Republican in either the House or the Senate" to cave to intimidation by pro-abortion radicals and other leftists' demands, reported CNN.

To Cooper's dissatisfaction, Republican lawmakers held fast, including former Democratic state Rep. Tricia Cotham, who switched parties in April, thereby giving the GOP the supermajority it needed in the state House to quash the veto.

Cotham stressed that "this bill strikes a reasonable balance."

Hours after the state Senate voted 30-20 to override Cooper's veto on Tuesday, the House voted 72-48 along party lines.

Protesters chanted "shame" after Republican lawmakers advanced the democratic will of the people:

After Republicans unanimously trampled Cooper's veto, Michael Whatley, chairman of the North Carolina GOP, stated, "The voters of North Carolina have rejected the radical abortion-on-demand position of Roy Cooper, Josh Stein, and the Democrat Party."

"I commend our Republican-led General Assembly for overriding Gov. Cooper's veto of this balanced and widely-supported legislation and moving forward to protect life in North Carolina," added Whatley.

North Carolina Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson said he was "glad to see Republicans in the NC House and Senate stand strong and override the Governor's veto," noting that they have "taken a stand to create a culture of life in North Carolina."

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America celebrated the win, stating, "The Care for Women, Children and Families Act protecting unborn children at 12 weeks is now law in North Carolina following supermajority votes to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. According to a Differentiator Data poll, 62% of North Carolinians support protecting babies at 12 weeks, with 68% of Unaffiliated voters and 61% of women supporting."

The pro-life advocacy group's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said "The battleground state of North Carolina has taken a major step forward in the fight for life. By defying Gov. Cooper’s bully tactics and standing for the will of the people, the General Assembly modeled great courage on the issue of life."

Cooper said in a statement, "North Carolinians now understand that Republicans are unified in their assault on women's reproductive freedom and we are energized to fight back on this."

This pro-life victory comes just ahead of a possible resolution in South Carolina, where the state House is presently fine-tuning a six-week abortion ban, which will go to a final vote on Wednesday, reported the Associated Press.

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