North Carolina Republicans override Democratic governor and put 12-week abortion ban into effect



Republican lawmakers in North Carolina dealt a crushing blow Tuesday evening to pro-abortion radicals, overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a pro-life bill.

Whereas before, North Carolina permitted abortions well into the second trimester, the lethal procedure is now prohibited after 12 weeks.

TheBlaze previously indicated that the law allows various exceptions — abortions are permitted through 20 weeks for pregnancies resultant of rape or incest and during the first 24 weeks if the baby has a "life-limiting anomaly."

The law also protects abortion survivors; protects unborn babies from discrimination based on sex, race, or Down syndrome; ensures women are not rushed or coerced into unwanted abortions; and provides $160 million in support for children, families, and maternal health, including $75 million to expand access to child care.

Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 20 Saturday, claiming that the measure's "fine-print requirements" as well as "restrictions will shut down clinics and make abortion completely unavailable to many women at any time, causing desperation and death."

The Democratic governor was counting on "just one Republican in either the House or the Senate" to cave to intimidation by pro-abortion radicals and other leftists' demands, reported CNN.

To Cooper's dissatisfaction, Republican lawmakers held fast, including former Democratic state Rep. Tricia Cotham, who switched parties in April, thereby giving the GOP the supermajority it needed in the state House to quash the veto.

Cotham stressed that "this bill strikes a reasonable balance."

Hours after the state Senate voted 30-20 to override Cooper's veto on Tuesday, the House voted 72-48 along party lines.

Protesters chanted "shame" after Republican lawmakers advanced the democratic will of the people:
\u201cThese are the moments right after the house passed the override of @NC_Governor veto on #SB20. Bill will now become law #abc11 #ncpol\u201d
— Josh Chapin (@Josh Chapin) 1684278904

After Republicans unanimously trampled Cooper's veto, Michael Whatley, chairman of the North Carolina GOP, stated, "The voters of North Carolina have rejected the radical abortion-on-demand position of Roy Cooper, Josh Stein, and the Democrat Party."

"I commend our Republican-led General Assembly for overriding Gov. Cooper's veto of this balanced and widely-supported legislation and moving forward to protect life in North Carolina," added Whatley.

North Carolina Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson said he was "glad to see Republicans in the NC House and Senate stand strong and override the Governor's veto," noting that they have "taken a stand to create a culture of life in North Carolina."

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America celebrated the win, stating, "The Care for Women, Children and Families Act protecting unborn children at 12 weeks is now law in North Carolina following supermajority votes to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. According to a Differentiator Data poll, 62% of North Carolinians support protecting babies at 12 weeks, with 68% of Unaffiliated voters and 61% of women supporting."

The pro-life advocacy group's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said "The battleground state of North Carolina has taken a major step forward in the fight for life. By defying Gov. Cooper’s bully tactics and standing for the will of the people, the General Assembly modeled great courage on the issue of life."

Cooper said in a statement, "North Carolinians now understand that Republicans are unified in their assault on women's reproductive freedom and we are energized to fight back on this."

This pro-life victory comes just ahead of a possible resolution in South Carolina, where the state House is presently fine-tuning a six-week abortion ban, which will go to a final vote on Wednesday, reported the Associated Press.

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Gripping video shows NC trooper risking his life to crash police cruiser into car of accused drunk driver: 'Most undoubtedly saved lives'



A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper is being heralded as a hero for putting himself in danger to stop a suspected drunk driver. The brave and selfless actions of the state trooper may have saved lives.

In the early morning hours of April 8, several police officers were in pursuit of a driver accused of driving while intoxicated. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Trooper Cody Thao joined the effort to stop an alleged drunk driver to prevent innocent people from being harmed or killed by the erratic driver.

The suspect – Joshua Ray Bibey – was speeding up an exit ramp in the wrong traffic direction. Thao was coming off the exit ramp in the correct direction. With only seconds to make a decision, Thao unselfishly and gallantly steered his police cruiser towards the oncoming vehicle. Thao's patrol car violently collided with the 26-year-old suspect's vehicle – which appears to be a pickup truck. Police dashcam video shows Thao's cruiser spin off the road after slamming into the vehicle in Wake County.

Thao intentionally drove into the DUI suspect, knowing that the driver was speeding toward the interstate exit – where other cars could have been exiting.

Bibey, of Raleigh, was arrested and charged with driving while impaired.

We're taking you through this wild video put out today by @NCSHP tonight with the trooper whose action saved lives.\nCody Thao: "All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County" #abc11 #ncshppic.twitter.com/PRwF9TwauE
— Josh Chapin (@Josh Chapin) 1651718702

"I could not be prouder of Trp. Thao and his quick decision to stop the wrong-way driver, his actions most undoubtedly saved lives," Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. – commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol – said in a statement. "His willingness to put himself in harm’s way is representative of the lifesaving work our members do each day. Placing others before ourselves is not just a saying amongst the law enforcement profession, it's a reality of what we do for the betterment of the communities we serve."

Thao told WTVD, "Once I saw the vehicle, I just decided to stop the chase right there. This is what we signed up to do, this is what we agreed to do."

He added, “All the credit goes out to the other troopers who inspire me on a daily basis especially here in Wake County.”

Thao has only been with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for less than a year.

"Before that, I actually worked at a Tractor Supply," he said. "I don’t have any prior experience with law enforcement. I’ve always had a servant’s heart, and I’ve always wanted to help people."

There was a very similar incident in March, when a Florida state trooper put herself in harm's way by purposely navigating her police cruiser into an oncoming driver who was allegedly drunk.