General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArk. Senate passes measure to ban most abortions
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas Senate voted Thursday to prohibit most abortions if a heartbeat is detected, ignoring warnings from opponents that banning the procedure as early as six weeks into a pregnancy would invite lawsuits.
If enacted, the ban would be the most stringent in the nation. The Ohio House passed a similar ban in 2011, but it was sidelined in the Senate last year over concerns that it might be found unconstitutional. Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe told reporters Thursday that's the same concern that he's researching.
"I'm waiting on lawyers. I think that's the big concern right now - does it run afoul of the Supreme Court or constitutional restrictions?" Beebe said. "That's the first thing we're looking at."
The Senate approved the new ban the same day that a House committee advanced two other abortion restrictions, part of a package of legislation anti-abortion groups believe are poised to become law now that Republicans control the state General Assembly.
The Senate approved the proposed "Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act" by a 26-8 vote. The measure, which now heads to a House committee, requires a test to detect a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed. If one is detected, a woman could not have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest and if a mother's life is in danger.
Similar legislation is also being considered in North Dakota and Mississippi. All have faced complaints from abortion rights groups that it runs afoul of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion up until viability, usually at 22 to 24 weeks.
"I'm asking you to stand up for life, and I believe when there is a heartbeat, based upon even the standard the Supreme Court has utilized, you cannot have a viable child without a heartbeat," Sen. Jason Rapert, the bill's sponsor, told lawmakers before they approved the legislation.
Five Democrats joined all 21 of the Senate's Republicans to vote for the restriction. Two Democratic lawmakers who spoke out against the bill said they believed it would be an invasion of women's rights to make decisions about their own health if the state enacted the ban.
"I don't want to go back to when women used kerosene and clothes hangers because they didn't have a choice," Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, told lawmakers.
Read more: http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/21583327/article--Ark--Senate-passes-measure-to-ban-most-abortions-?
niyad
(113,582 posts)the war on women continues apace, not just repukes, but dems as well (witness the 5 dems who supported this bs)
warrior1
(12,325 posts)ban abortion that really only the wealthy women will be able to get abortion through their personal doctors?
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)Where is the ACLU? Why are we losing the abortion debate at the state level?
sinkingfeeling
(51,474 posts)far, they have about a dozen anti-abortion, anti-education, and anti-worker bills floating. And this week, they decided that it's just great to desecrate a church by carrying loaded guns! I intend to be out of here within the next 24 months.
First time they've had control in the last 138 years and they are bound and determined to catch up with the nuts in Arizona, Kansas, Alabama, etc.
backtoblue
(11,345 posts)the single issue of abortion is what has gotten most of the GOPs elected. and, do i dare say some racism.
please, take me with you!!
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)As our society, led by a bunch of religious control freaks, slumps back into the dark ages.
They want to glorify the Duggars and punish the woman who doesn't want to bear a child, then condemn that woman for being pregnant in the first place.