On Thursday, May 6, the U.S. state of Texas passed one of the toughest bills to date to ban abortion, called the Texas Heartbeat Act. The bill bans abortion almost entirely, even in cases of pregnancy following rape or incest.
According to local Texas media reports, during the debate on the bill, there were some clear divisions between pro-abortionists and opponents, including fundamental disagreements about science, beliefs and whether lawmakers should pass such a proposal. In the end, the state House passed SB 8 by a vote of 83-64. The bill will next be sent to the governor for signature into law.
Texas Republicans have long taken a dim view of abortion. This bill would declare that all abortions are illegal once fetal heart activity can be detected. And usually, a woman’s fetus has a heartbeat about six weeks into her pregnancy.
What makes this Texas legislation unique is that while anywhere else only a few government officials can prosecute abortion violators or abortion facilitators, this Texas legislation goes further and allows citizens, in addition to state or local officials, to sue abortion providers or those who “aid and abet” others in violating the prohibition. The law gives citizens the right to sue them whether they are directly involved or not, and whether they are in Texas or not. The bill allows only one exception, which is for women to receive abortions if their lives are in danger, but not for victims of rape or incest.
The bill has also met with resistance: more than 300 Texas lawyers say it creates “unconstitutional restrictions” on abortion.
Texas Rep. Shelby Slawson, who sponsored the bill, said, “This is the best day for tens of thousands of unborn children in Texas.” She added, “For too long, abortion has meant the end of a beating heart, but passing the Texas Heartbeat Act will mean protecting those innocent unborn lives in Texas.”
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