South Carolina is attempting to pass a bill that would require women to view an ultrasound of their baby prior to electing an abortion. The bill’s key sponsor, Greg Delleney (R), explains the reason for the bill: “I’m just trying to save lives and protect people from regret and inform women with the most accurate non-judgemental information that can be provided.” Providing women information to help them make the best choice sounds fair enough. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D), however, disagrees: “I see it as some kind of emotional blackmail, and I think we’re putting an undue burden on our healthcare providers and on folk who are providing those services. … The supporters of this legislation seem to believe that women enter into this decision blindly or without a lot of thought.”Emotional blackmail? Notice how she assumes that viewing the images will arouse an emotion in women—emotions that would likely lead them to keep their child. Abortion-choice advocates know how powerful sonogram images are. Sonograms make it clear that what is being terminated is a nascent human being, not a mere clump of cells. The opposition fears that women who want an abortion will change their minds after seeing the images because their conscience could no longer bear going through with the process. Rather than commending the information-bearers (the sonogram operators) for helping women make a more informed choice, they are characterized as emotional blackmailers. Same ‘ol abortion rhetoric.