Despite North Carolina’s 12-week abortion limit passed in 2023, our state has become the abortion hub of the Southeast, attracting thousands of women from neighboring states with stricter protections for the unborn. While other Southern states—except Virginia—have implemented laws that limit abortion at conception or at the detection of a heartbeat, North Carolina has seen a 43.7% increase in abortions since 2020. In 2022, 28,855 abortions were performed in our state, but after the 12-week law took effect, estimates suggest that number jumped to 45,780 in 2023. Out-of-state abortions have surged, with the percentage of non-resident abortions doubling from 17% to 34% between 2020 and 2023. Even more disturbingly, abortion has become a modern-day eugenics campaign targeting African-American women. While Black residents make up just 21% of North Carolina’s population, they account for 43.7% of all abortions performed in the state—a chilling echo of North Carolina’s eugenics program, which forcibly sterilized young Black women for decades.

The scientific reality of fetal development underscores the urgency of enacting stronger protections for the unborn. At just six weeks gestation, a baby’s heart is actively beating at 110 beats per minute, circulating blood, oxygen, and nutrients. By eight weeks, the heart rate reaches 159 BPM, and the brain has already divided into three distinct regions responsible for sensory processing, movement, and vital body functions. A Heartbeat Bill would be a decisive step in saving thousands of unborn lives, as 91.8% of abortions in North Carolina occur before 13 weeks gestation. The Heartbeat Act would protect unborn babies after a detectable heartbeat, while allowing exceptions up to 20 weeks for rape, incest, or medical emergencies. It is time to end North Carolina’s status as a destination for abortion and restore our state’s commitment to protecting life.

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