New Hampshire Republicans Introduce ’15 Day’ Abortion Ban

OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
1:40 PM – Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Four Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire have proposed a bill that would outlaw abortion at “15 days” prenatal age, according to a copy of the bill.

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New Hampshire GOP legislators introduced the bill, which would ban abortion at “15 days” gestational age.

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, prenatal age is determined from the first day of the woman’s menstruation period, at 15 days gestational age, a fertilized egg has most likely not been implanted in the uterine wall. Implantation is the point when pregnancy begins.

Although these conditions vary, doctors generally estimate that women ovulate two weeks after the start of their period, or at about 14 days gestational age, and fertilization occurs shortly after. Until an egg implants on the uterine wall, which is believed to happen a week or more after fertilization, the fertilized egg is nonviable.

Since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, Republicans have been pursuing a number of restrictions on abortion.

Currently, New Hampshire bans abortion after 24 weeks, except in situations of fatal fetal abnormalities or in particular cases to preserve the life and health of the mother. The newly introduced bill keeps those same exceptions. 

Republican Governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, who signed the 24-week restriction into law, has declared himself as “pro-choice” and pledged to safeguard access to abortion.

State Representative John Sellers, a Republican co-sponsor of the bill, said that he was not sure why the bill’s signer had aimed for 15 days, but Sellers also emphasized that he would be “supportive” of any ban on abortion.

“I believe life begins at conception,” Sellers said, referring to fertilization.

State Democrats denounced the newly proposed bill.

“In a state where voters overwhelmingly believe that reproductive health decisions should be made solely between patient and medical provider, this legislation is absurd. Stopping this bill isn’t enough; it must be completely renounced,” said state Representative Alexis Simpson.