Missouri Lawmakers To Vote On 72-Hour Abortion Wait Period

Missouri lawmakers will vote this week to decide whether a mandatory 72-hour wait period will be added to the state's abortion law.

Republican lawmakers in the state have told media outlets that they are confident they will be able to override a veto by Gov. Jay Nixon that dismissed the 72-hour wait requirement for those seeking abortions earlier this year.

According to the Associated Press, if Missouri does successfully pass the 72-hour wait period bill, it will have one of the strictest abortion requirements in the nation, as it does not allow for exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Utah currently has a 72-hour wait period but has exceptions, and South Dakota also has a 72-hour wait period.

Susan Klein, a lobbyist for Missouri Right to Life who is pushing the legislation, told the Associated Press that the purpose of the 72-hour wait period is to ensure women feel they are making the right decision by ending the life of their fetus.

"Our intent is to make sure that a women has the opportunity to really think through what she's about to do and how it will affect her health, as well as the life of her baby," Klein told the media outlet.

Another Republican lawmaker, Rep. Kevin Elmer, who is sponsoring the legislation, said because Missouri already has a 24 hour wait period requirement, he does not think an additional 24 hours would be that much of a burden to a woman's decision.

"Taking it from one day to three days? I don't think it's creating an extra obstacle for the mothers," Elmer said.

Those who oppose the legislation, including Democratic Sen. Jolie Justus, argue that the purpose of the bill is not to protect women's health but rather to effectively outlaw abortion in the southern state.

"A 72-hour waiting period is completely absurd," Justus said. "The reality is, they simply want to outlaw abortion in the state of Missouri."