Effort to say life starts at conception suffers setback
A proposal to define life as beginning at conception was dealt a blow Wednesday as S.C. senators refused to give the bill priority for debate.
As the legislative session nears its June end, that refusal could doom the proposal, which would have asked voters to amend the S.C. Constitution to give rights to “born and preborn persons beginning at conception."
Backers — including sponsoring state Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg — see the so-called “personhood” amendment as a way to outlaw abortion. But an abortion opponent said the proposal was fatally flawed.
“I’m as pro-life as any lawmaker in the chamber,” said state Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, adding, “I do believe life begins at conception.”
But trying to outlaw abortion by amending the state Constitution could damage the pro-life movement, Campsen said. Passing the proposal would give the Supreme Court the opportunity to undo all abortion restrictions that South Carolina has passed, Campsen said.
National pro-life organizations do not support the proposal, Campsen added.
Cassie Cope: 803-771-8657, @cassielcope
Bankrupt residents could hold on to $5,000 worth of guns
South Carolinians going through bankruptcy could keep $5,000 worth of guns from creditors under a bill advancing in the Senate.
State Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Horry, says people who fall on hard times should not have to give up heirloom weapons passed down through generations. Clemmons also says his bill is about allowing people to keep guns for protection.
The bill, sent Wednesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee, also is designed to help bankrupt widows keep their homes.
Under the provision added by state Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell, D-Lancaster, a widow could continue to claim her deceased husband’s homestead exemption. That would double the value exempt from creditors to $118,200.
Powers Norrell says widows usually end up in bankruptcy court because of medical bills and then face homelessness.
Bill banning Sharia law dead for year
A bill prohibiting S.C. courts from enforcing foreign law in the state appears dead for this session.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-9 Wednesday against passing the bill, whose main purpose was to prevent Sharia law from coming to the United States.
Supports say preventing judges from using laws based in Islam can protect America. Opponents say it solves a problem that doesn’t exist because the state and U.S. constitutions assure no court ever can use foreign law.
Associated Press
This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Effort to say life starts at conception suffers setback."