Iceland may be eradicating Down syndrome through abortion. So is Denmark. But Ohio has other plans.
On Wednesday, the Ohio state legislature actually passed a bill that bans selective abortion of Down syndrome babies, something civilized society once rightly called eugenics.
According to LifeNews, the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act (SB164) passed the Ohio senate by a vote of 20 to 12. Should the governor sign it into law, Down syndrome babies will no longer be sentenced to death as a result of their genetic medical condition. Abortionists who violate the measure could be charged with a fourth-degree felony and lose their license.
Pro-lifers have celebrated the bill’s passing, crediting legislators for taking a stand against discrimination.
“Ohio Right to Life is grateful that our pro-life legislators took a stand against discrimination and abortion,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. “Both the House and the Senate sent a loud message that we are a society built on compassion, love, equality. We expect Governor Kasich will sign this legislation, as he said he would in 2015. Every Ohioan deserves the right to life, no matter how many chromosomes they have.”
“A prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome should not mean a death sentence,” he added. “Thanks to our pro-life legislators, we are one step closer to ensuring that Ohioans with Down syndrome are recognized as humans worthy of dignity, just as they are.”
Ohio governor John Kasich said in a 2015 interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that he would be “more than glad to say that of course I would sign” the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act.
Abortion activists have expressed outrage over the legislation. NARAL issued Ohio lawmakers a petition with 2,000 signatures in opposition to the bill this past October. Jaime Miracle, deputy director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, said the bill will curtail a woman’s choice.
“It’s not our place to judge a woman and her decision on whether or not to continue a pregnancy for whatever reason it is,” the pro-abortion leader said.
The crystal ball that is Europe has been leading the charge in the cause against Down syndrome babies. In 2006, Denmark had just four babies born with Down syndrome. In the neighboring country of Iceland, the abortion of Down syndrome babies has reached near 100%. France has gotten in on the race too; most recently, the country banned a television commercial featuring Down syndrome children because it upset the mothers who previously aborted them.