The Texas abortion law that was just passed has polarized the country once again in the debate on abortion. The law states that a woman cannot get an abortion after being pregnant for six weeks. The passing of the new policy was met with both outrage and praise by American citizens.
Photo: Sergio Flores
The bill was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbot, who is a member of the Republican Party. Gov. Abbot claimed that he was morally obligated to sign the bill into action because of his religious views. However, the law was met with large gatherings and protests from women across the country.
The Debate:
Those against this law, mainly those on the liberal side of the political spectrum, believe that abortions are vital for healthcare. Furthermore, they also think that women should have the right to choose whether they should get an abortion or not. Finally, many with this viewpoint also believe that it is not a man's right to create laws that impact women's bodies.
Angered citizens have also cited claims that many women don't know they are pregnant at six weeks.
Conversely, conservatives who hold anti-abortion views believe that a child's life starts at conception. Additionally, they believe that abortion is equal to the murder of babies—many on this side of the debate call to their religious beliefs as justification for their stance.
The Facts:
The Texas abortion law will be put into effect in September. The Supreme Court ruled not to block the bill in a 5 to 4 vote. The law states that citizens can sue women who get an abortion after the six-week deadline and anyone who helped them get the operation. Additionally, the person who decides to sue the woman getting the abortion will be awarded $10,000 if the court rules in their favor.
The law does not make exemptions for those who are seeking an abortion due to rape. While abortion rates due to incest make up just 1 percent of total abortions, pro-abortion rights individuals believe that it is wrong not to allow rape victims to receive an abortion (after six weeks).
Conclusion:
The Texas law is the most restrictive abortion policy in the country to date. However, with both sides believing that their opposition is evil, it is unclear whether an amicable agreement will ever be met on the topic of abortion.
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