Fri., January 28, 2011 3:27pm (EST)

Bill Filed To Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks

By Krystal Roberts

Updated: 2 years ago

ATLANTA  —   Republican State Representative Allen Peake filed a bill this week that would ban all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Peake’s proposal claims fetuses are capable of feeling pain at 20 weeks. The bill is called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. It does not ban abortions when the mother’s life is in danger. The bill would however change Georgia’s current abortion ban of 24 weeks.

According to the Macon Telegraph, the bill is similar to a Nebraska law that is based on the allegation of pain rather than the fetus’ viability. Opponents of that law site studies that claim 20-week-old fetuses cannot feel pain.

Under the bill, medical professionals who perform abortions after 20 weeks would be subject to state sanctions and lawsuits.

The bill was assigned to a committee for hearing, but a date has not been set.