"Does my life not matter to you?" 12-year-old girl challenges lawmakers on abortion access

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (WKRC) - During a public hearing Wednesday for a bill that would ban abortion in most cases in West Virginia, a young girl stood before lawmakers to ask, "What about my life?"

West Virginia's legislature is considering the bill after Gov. Jim Justice asked them to "clarify and modernize" the state's abortion laws following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, reports the Washington Post. The bill up for consideration would also allow physicians who performed abortions to be prosecuted.

Dozens of people spoke out against the bill at the West Virginia House of Delegates Wednesday, including 12-year-old Addison Gardner.

“My education is very important to me, and I plan on doing great things in life," Gardner said, addressing lawmakers. "If a man decides that I’m an object and does unspeakable and tragic things to me, am I, a child, supposed to birth and carry another child? Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications, a child who had no say in what was being done with my body? Some here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?"

Despite the opposition, the West Virginia House passed the bill 69 to 23. The bill went to the Senate Thursday and could pass by the end of the week.