The anti-abortion law signed into law Tuesday (March 9) is one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the United States and is likely to face opposition from other states.
The Arkansas House of Representatives passed the bill last Wednesday (March 3) with 75 votes in favor and 18 votes against. The bill bans all abortions except in cases of medical emergency to save the mother’s Life. The bill, which passed the Senate last month, does not include any exceptions for rape or incest.
In a statement, Governor Hutchinson acknowledged that the bill, SB6, ignores Supreme Court precedent. And he said the federal Supreme Court would be more likely to reconsider the issue if more exceptions were made.
He said, “I will sign SB6 because of the overwhelming legislative support and my sincere, long-held anti-abortion beliefs.”
He said, “The SB6 bill contradicts binding U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and the purpose of the legislation is to set the stage for the Supreme Court to overturn existing case law. I personally would prefer that the legislation include exceptions for rape and incest, which has been my consistent view, and that these exceptions would increase the chances of reexamination by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
Brandon Hill, Ph.D., president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, opposed the legislation on Tuesday (March 9).
Hill argued that pregnancy and abortion are personal matters.
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