Tomorrow, Texas Will Become the First State in America to Ban Abortions
National
|
Micaiah Bilger
| Aug 31, 2021 | 9:46AM |
Washington, DC
Wednesday is a big day for Texas.
The new state heartbeat law, which could save tens of thousands of unborn babies from abortion every year, is slated to go into effect. Unless pro-abortion groups succeed in their emergency appeals Tuesday, Texas will be the first state in America to enforce a heartbeat law.
The pro-life law, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed in May, prohibits abortions once an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, typically about six weeks of pregnancy. Exceptions are allowed if the mother’s life is at risk. Unique from other heartbeat laws, the Texas legislation includes a private enforcement mechanism that allows people to file lawsuits against abortionists who violate the law.
The law has the potential to save tens of thousands of babies from abortion. In 2020, about 54,000 unborn babies were aborted in Texas, and about 85 percent happened after six weeks of pregnancy, according to state health statistics. That means more than 100 unborn babies with beating hearts may be spared from abortion every single day in Texas.
The abortion industry is trying desperately to keep its deadly trade going, filing appeals to circuit courts and finally the U.S. Supreme Court. Thus far, their appeals have failed. Now, the decision on whether to temporarily block the law rests with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
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On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, Whole Woman’s Health and other abortion groups asked the Supreme Court to stop Texas from enforcing the law, according to the Dallas Observer.
In their appeal, the pro-abortion groups said the law “would immediately and catastrophically reduce abortion access in Texas” and potentially cause many abortion facilities to close.
Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO of the Whole Woman’s Health abortion chain, told the Observer that they plan to continue doing abortions right up until the minute the law goes into effect. Other abortionists also have said they are rushing to abort unborn babies in Texas before Wednesday.
But Texas Right to Life legislative director John Seago said pro-lifers are optimistic.
“The abortion industry is using their last, desperate option in an attempt to block the life-saving Texas Heartbeat Act from taking effect Wednesday,” Seago told Breitbart. “This anti-Life lawsuit is invalid. We are hopeful that Justice Alito will examine the compelling arguments raised explaining why the case should be ultimately dismissed.”
Earlier this summer, a group of more than 20 abortion practitioners, including Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health, filed a lawsuit asking a court to block the law from going into effect. That hearing was scheduled for Monday before a federal district judge, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the groups’ request and canceled the hearing.
About a dozen other states also have passed heartbeat laws, but courts have blocked the states from enforcing them, citing Roe v. Wade.
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court took away the states’ ability to protect unborn babies from abortion under Roe v. Wade, and instead forced states to legalize abortion on demand. Roe made the United States one of only seven countries in the world that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks. The court is scheduled to hear a Mississippi case in the fall that challenges this precedent.
Polls show Americans support heartbeat laws. An April poll by the University of Texas-Austin found that 49 percent of Texans support making abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy, while 41 percent oppose it.
In 2019, a national Hill-HarrisX survey also found that 55 percent of voters said they do not think laws banning abortions after six weeks – when an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable – are too restrictive. Gallup polls consistently find that a majority of Americans think all or most abortions should be illegal.
Along with passing the heartbeat law this spring, Texas state lawmakers also increased support to help pregnant and parenting mothers and babies, ensuring that they have resources to help them choose life. Among other things, they voted to invest $100 million into the Texas Alternatives to Abortion program, which provides free counseling, parenting classes, diapers, formula, job skills training and more.
LifeNews Note: Below is an unborn baby at 6 weeks, whose life will be protected under the new law.
