SD Shelves Abortion Bill

A bill in the South Dakota state legislature aimed at expanding the definition of justifiable homicide has been killed after it drew national attention and sharp criticism. The law, approved by the state's House Judiciary Committee in a 9-3 party-line vote, would have added protection of an unborn child as a legally defensible reason for murder. "Homicide is justifiable if committed by any person in the lawful defense of such person, or of his or her husband, wife, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant, or the unborn child of any such enumerated person," the relevant clause read. Even anti-abortion activists said they were "shocked" at the language, though pro-choice activist insist the language was added intentionally to target abortion doctors.