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Texas Has Now Officially Outlawed Abortion After Six Weeks

Texas Has Now Officially Outlawed Abortion After Six Weeks

Women who became pregnant through rape or incest must still go full-term with their baby.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Texas has outlawed abortion for any pregnancy that is older than six weeks.

The new legislation has been slammed by campaigners and the US President for going against the precedent set by Roe v Wade, which legalised abortion across America in 1973.

Loads of women don't even know they're pregnant before six weeks, let alone have the time to process the thought of terminating the baby.

The Sydney Morning Herald has described the legislation, which came into effect despite a Supreme Court appeal, as the 'most far-reaching restriction on abortion rights in the United States'.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill back in May and it finally became official law yesterday (September 1).

PA

A statement from Joe Biden's office said: "This extreme Texas law blatantly violates the constitutional right established under Roe v. Wade and upheld as precedent for nearly half a century.

"The Texas law will significantly impair women's access to the health care they need, particularly for communities of color and individuals with low incomes.

"And, outrageously, it deputizes private citizens to bring lawsuits against anyone who they believe has helped another person get an abortion, which might even include family members, health care workers, front desk staff at a health care clinic, or strangers with no connection to the individual.

"My administration is deeply committed to the constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade nearly five decades ago and will protect and defend that right."

The six week timeframe was chosen because that's when a heartbeat can usually be first detected.

Under the legislation, women will only be allowed to go through with an abortion after six weeks in the state in the event of a medical emergency.

PA

Women who became pregnant through rape or incest must still go full-term with their baby.

One of the more concerning aspects of the legislation is that it gives financial incentives for people to dob in anyone who helps with an abortions.

Whistleblowers will receive $10,000 if they successfully report someone who 'aids or abets' a woman terminating her pregnancy after six weeks.

Campaigners are concerned this will force women to raise babies they either can't financially support or don't want, or both.

Some women will be forced to travel interstate to have the procedure done, if they can afford it, while others will just have to bring the child into the world and give it up for adoption.

At least 12 other US states have brought in similar 'heartbeat' abortion laws, however they've all been prevented from being enacted into law.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Texas, News, abortion

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