Pressure Mounting on Virginia as New Abortion Measures Take Hold in South

NORTHERN VIRGINIA – Could more women soon be traveling to Virginia for an abortion? Advocates on both sides of the issue believe it's possible. In the year following the Supreme Court's landmark Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, more restrictions are taking effect across the South. 
 
"If you zoom into the South specifically, essentially all our states here in the southern region have passed legislation that protects the unborn and that is from a gestational perspective of either 12 weeks, heartbeat, or sooner," said Caitlin Connors, Southern Regional Director of SBA Pro-Life America.  
 
Virginia's abortion laws are among the more liberal, with the procedure allowed until 26 weeks; and since 2020, there's no more 24-hour waiting period after an ultrasound. State Democrats also recently defeated several bills that would have limited abortion access.  

"There was pushback, of course, on any sort of pro-life legislation, including the 15-week bill from the pro-abortion Virginia Senate," said Connors.  
  
Nearby North Carolina's new ban after 12 weeks of pregnancy takes effect July 1st.  
  
Amid court challenges, Republican lawmakers in South Carolina are pushing to prohibit abortions after six weeks. If they succeed, Virginia will be the only southeastern state to allow abortion after the first trimester.  

"Texas completely banning abortion, I think that is moving things in the right direction," said Abby Johnson, CEO of And Then There Were None Ministries. 
  
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana have near-total bans in place. And it's no longer allowed after six weeks in Georgia and Florida, once the unborn baby's unique heartbeat can be detected.

With access to the procedure limited in these states, there's concern on both sides that Virginia will become an abortion destination. Planned Parenthood, which runs clinics around the state, expects thousands of out-of-state patients in the coming months seeking to terminate pregnancies. Still, pro-life advocates are encouraged.  
  
"Yes, there are women who are traveling out of state to have abortions. But I also think, and I have seen that many women who maybe would have before chosen abortion are now choosing life, just because now there's so much information, so much talk about abortion in the media," said Johnson.  
  
And Virginia will soon strengthen its laws too if Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has his way. Youngkin, who supports a 15-week ban and has said he's willing to sign anti-abortion legislation sent to his desk, may well get the chance if the legislature goes red in the November election.                                                                  
                                                         
At the same time, the courts are considering the future of abortion pills which account for more than half of all U.S. abortions. 

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