Would-be Republican Governor of Alabama Would Make Abortion Ban a Priority

To this Canadian, all this pro-life sentiment is shocking.

Bentley, a retired physician and a state representative from Tuscaloosa, said at a Montgomery news conference Tuesday that he prefiled in the Alabama Legislature a proposed constitutional amendment to ban most abortions in Alabama. The proposed ban would make an exception where the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.

The proposed amendment is similar to a proposed ban passed by the South Dakota Legislature but was rejected by voters in that state last year.

Bentley said most members of the Alabama Legislature say they oppose abortion. He said he hopes they will follow up on those statements by voting for his proposal.

"Most legislators say they are pro-life. We are going to find out how pro-life they are," Bentley said.