Texas will become the first state to ban abortions as soon as a baby’s heartbeat is detectable, Newsmax reported. The law takes effect on Wednesday, September 1, 2021.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first signed The Texas Heartbeat Act in May to ban abortions once an unborn baby’s heart begins beating.
“We’re addressing every issue in the entire state that will make lives better for everybody, including innocent, unborn children,” the governor said. “What this bill seeks to do is once a heartbeat is detected in a mother’s womb, at that time it would be inappropriate to take the life of that baby. Texas has taken a position that innocent life is so important.”
Abbot added the new law “… ensures that the life of every unborn child who has a heartbeat will be saved from the ravages of abortion.”
Abortion providers had hoped to block the policy. However, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals canceled a Monday hearing on a lawsuit to block the law.
Helene Kransoff, Vice President of public policy litigation and law at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) said, “[I]t’s quite possible that it could create chaos and problems on the ground, including the closing of health centers.”
“To be clear: our health centers remain open, and Planned Parenthood providers will see as many patients as they can, as long as they can within the law. But without the courts stepping in, on Wednesday, Texans will be denied their constitutional right to abortion in violation of fifty years of precedent,” said Julie Murray, senior staff attorney for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
“The Texas Heartbeat Act will take effect Wednesday, September 1! This means that abortions in Texas will be illegal after the baby’s heartbeat is detectable! Help spread the word!” Texas Right to Life wrote on social media.
A recent poll by University of Texas-Austin found that Texans support a six-week abortion ban. According to the poll, 49 percent support making abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy, while 41 percent oppose it.
The United States is one of seven countries in the world that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks.
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-Staff reports