A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Delaware GOP Lawmakers Would Ban Abortion After 20 Weeks

official photo

If Delaware Republican lawmakers had their way abortion would be banned after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The measure would make it a felony for anyone to perform an abortion after that.

WBOC reports that the measure does provide for an exemption after 20 weeks if the woman’s life is threatened.

Planned Parenthood of Delaware CEO Ruth Lytle-Barnaby told the television station that her organization opposes the measure and disputes claims that a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks.

Meanwhile, state Senator Bryant Richardson, sponsor of the measure, said he was optimistic it would get approval from the Democratically controlled General Assembly.

But Democratic state Senator Bryan Townsend, an abortion rights supporter, told WBOC that there was a debate last year and nothing has changed.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.