Arkansas Passes Abortion Law

Arkansas Passes Nation’s Strictest Abortion Law

Proving once again Republicans and the south are anti-woman, Arkansas passed a “12 week abortion” law today.  The law bans most abortions beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy.  Yesterday it passed the state senate, and today the GOP controlled house voted 56-33 to overturn Democratic Governor Mike Beebe’s veto.  He had previously vetoed a 20 week law.

Beebe’s reasoning stated that the laws were “unconstitutional”, and would cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation.  But the house and senate didn’t seem to care.  The men of the religious right overruled logic and the rights of women to control their own bodies.

Beebe addressed the measures pointing out facts, not fiction, that the measures defied the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion until a fetus could viably survive outside the womb.  A fetus is generally considered viable at 22 to 24 weeks.  Abortion rights groups have said they will challenge the measure, as Beebe predicted.  It will not take effect until this summer.

The measure is among several abortion restrictions lawmakers have backed since Republicans won control of the House and Senate in the November election.  Republicans hold 21 of the 35 Senate seats, and 51 of the 100 seats in the House.  It takes a simple majority in both chambers to override.

Beebe noted that the state paid nearly $148,000 to attorneys for plaintiffs who successfully challenged a 1997 late-term abortion ban.

Women who have abortions would not face prosecution under the bill, but doctors who perform abortions in violation of the 12-week ban could have their medical licenses revoked.

Well, the Republicans have won another victory, for now.  They have pushed women into third place on the humanity chart once again.  This is one of those times I wish men could carry babies.  Things would definitely move in an opposite direction if their bodies were in the discussion.

James Turnage

Columnist-The Guardian Express