It’s Official: Abortion Ban Goes Into Effect In This Republican-Controlled State
(TargetLiberty.org) – Shortly after the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, abortion bans went into effect in a number of states. Some of the laws completely restricted the procedure except in the case of very narrow circumstances. For years, Tennessee lawmakers have been trying to implement restrictions on the procedure in their state and in the week after the high court’s decision, they finally won their case.
Tennessee Law
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery III (R) filed a motion in federal court to lift an injunction against the state’s abortion restrictions just hours after the Dobbs decision was published. In 2020, the lawmakers passed the “Heartbeat Bill,” which banned the procedure after about 6 weeks when a heartbeat could first be detected in a fetus which is usually before a woman knows she’s pregnant. Its law also requires women to attend two doctors’ appointments 48 hours apart before they can terminate. The AG argued the state had a “valid interest in protecting the lives of unborn Tennesseans.”
On Tuesday, June 28, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the injunction put in place by a lower court, allowing the 6-week ban to take place. According to the Tennessean, Slatery released a statement announcing the federal court’s ruling means “provisions prohibiting most abortions are now enforceable.” However, that law isn’t the only one going into effect.
A 2019 trigger law that bans almost all abortions will go into effect in mid-August. The Tennessee Human Life Protection Act makes performing abortions a Class C felony. There are no exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, trafficking, or if the fetus has severe and fatal abnormalities. The only case where physicians could perform abortions is if they have determined it’s necessary to save the life of the mothers.
Most Restrictive Bans in the Country
Several other states have implemented similarly restrictive laws. Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, Idaho, and a few other states all prohibit the procedure now with very few exceptions. In Kentucky, anyone who provides abortion services will be charged with a Class D felony. The only exception to the law is if the mother’s health is at risk. In Idaho, the procedure is also banned but there are a few exceptions for rape, incest, and the health of the mother.
Florida has implemented a 15-week abortion ban. However, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis plans to revisit the issue and believes the state will pass an even stricter law. To see where your state stands on terminations, check here.
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