Missouri state Sen. Tracy McCreery (D) introduced amendments that would allow exceptions for abortion in incest and rape cases. However, her efforts were struck down along party lines by the Republican-controlled state Senate.

State Sen. Rick Brattin ® pushed back on allowing exceptions [from the abortion ban], arguing that giving birth in the cases of rape and incest could help the mother recover.

“If you want to go after the rapist, let’s give him the death penalty. Absolutely, let’s do it,” Brattin said. “But not the innocent person caught in-between that, by God’s grace, may even be the greatest healing agent you need in which to recover from such an atrocity.”