Mississippi Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn is facing backlash after saying there should be no exception to the state’s ban on abortion, insisting that even 12-year-old girls who are victims of incest must carry a pregnancy to term now that the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down Roe v Wade.
Gunn’s remarks came while speaking with reporters at the House chamber.
During questioning, Associated Press reporter Emily Wagster Pettus asked: “What about the case of a 12-year-old girl who was molested by her father or uncle?”
“I believe life begins at conception. Every life is valuable. And those are my personal beliefs,” Speaker Gunn insisted.
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Another reporter pressed Gunn further.
“So that 12-year-old child molested by her family members should carry that pregnancy to term?” Daily Journal reporter Taylor Vance asked.
“That is my personal belief. I believe life begins at conception,” the Speaker repeated.
Gunn concluded by saying the members of his party were “going to celebrate” the Supreme Court’s decision “today.”
Watch Gunn’s remarks below:
Here's the moment when Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn told journalists that he believes even 12-year-old girls raped by their fathers and uncles should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term because "every life is valuable."https://t.co/gCzlfG1MmN pic.twitter.com/LJU5aWhVfF
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) June 29, 2022
