Missouri senators vote against allowing abortions in rape, incest cases

Missouri senators voted Wednesday against amendments that would have allowed abortions in the cases of rape and incest in the state.

Missouri senators debated a bill that would make it illegal for public funds to go toward abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood. During the debate, Missouri state Sen. Tracy McCreery (D) introduced amendments that would allow exceptions for abortion in incest and rape cases.

“I think the consensus is that Missouri law went too far when they banned all abortions,” she said during the discussion, according to audio posted online by the state Senate.

However, her efforts were struck down along party lines by the Republican-controlled state Senate, The Associated Press reported. McCreery also argued the current abortion ban shows the state does not care about women who are victims of rape.

“What we’re saying is, ‘We don’t care,’” McCreery said of the abortion ban, according to the AP. “We’re going to force you to give birth, even if that pregnancy resulted from forcible rape by a family member, a date, an ex-husband or a stranger.”

State Sen. Rick Brattin (R) pushed back on allowing exceptions, arguing that giving birth in the cases of rape and incest could help the mother recover, according to AP.

“If you want to go after the rapist, let’s give him the death penalty. Absolutely, let’s do it,” Brattin said, according to the AP. “But not the innocent person caught in-between that, by God’s grace, may even be the greatest healing agent you need in which to recover from such an atrocity.”

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Missouri began enforcing its strict ban on all abortions following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. It bans all abortions except to save the life of a pregnant person, according to the center.

The Associated Press contributed.