Everything about The New Strict Abortion Law in Texas

On September 1st, an immense number of Texas residents were incredibly disappointed and even furious to find out that the new abortion law was introduced in the state. According to the latest ban, abortion procedures are now considered illegal if they are conducted after the sixth week of pregnancy. Specialists providing such services believe that they will face a massive drop in the number of visitors to their facilities. Hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered together on organized protests.

The Latest Abortion Ban in Texas and the Requirements Associated with It

As most of you have probably figured out already, the majority of the state’s residents are not happy with the newest ban regarding abortion that was introduced in Texas at the beginning of September 2021. It is known as Senate Bill 8, and it is obliged with several strict requirements that must be fulfilled by anyone seeking such kind of services.

• First and foremost, all minors should get permission from their parents to have an abortion within the first sixth weeks of pregnancy. An alternative to this rule is for the minor to receive a Judicial Bypass. The latter refers to the documentation given by a judge. In such a case, they won’t need to get permission from their raisers.
• Additionally, if a person is said to have a medical condition that requires the abortion to take place, a doctor is allowed to perform the surgery. Also, if that’s the case with a minor, they don’t need parents’ permission.
• It is obligatory for all patients to visit the respective cabinet at least twice before proceeding to the operation. During the first visit, the individual goes through an ultrasound procedure so that the doctor can determine the pregnancy’s state. If it is less than six weeks, the visitor has the legal right to have an abortion. In any other case, however, it is mandatory for the expert to refuse to provide the service. According to the regulation, anyone who breaks the law can face serious consequences.

People’s Reaction about the Texas’s Abortion Ban

The new abortion law in Texas was not well received by the majority of people. There were several protests about the ban organized by Planned Parenthood of Illinois and their partners. Hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered together to express their indignation against the ban. The CEO of the reproductive health care organization shared details about the immense increase of Texas visitors in the abortion facilities in Illinois. Jennifer Welch said that a number of other American states are considering the adoption of the exact same law that has been introduced to Texas. In other words, this would mean that people who wish to have an abortion will have to travel to neighboring states that don’t have such bans regarding abortions. Protestants believe that Texas residents should have the legal right to go under such surgery whenever they want. Pro-abortion activists have asked the US Supreme Court to reconsider the legalization of the ban because women should not be forced to seek assistance in other states. However, there were another group of people that did not share pro-abortion activists’ beliefs. Those who favor the newly introduced Texas law also attended some of the organized protests. A woman from a neutral organization said that unborn babies don’t have rights, and future mothers should consider giving the newborns for adoption rather than getting an abortion. The third group of protestants was dressed as the characters from the well-known novel and TV series called The Handmaid’s Tale. In spite of everything, it was obvious that the majority of people were against the new ban.

Are There Any Exceptions?

One of the first questions that followed after the official statement of Senate Bill 8 being passed regarded pregnancies, which were a result of rape. The 48th governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, however, was quick to deliver information that was not satisfactory to residents of the state.

He said that rather than allowing abortion in such cases, he would do his best to “eliminate rape as a problem”. According to the politician, the main purpose of the latest law was to protect the life of every child. When asked whether or not he will consider rape or incest as exceptions when it comes to the abortion law, he said he wouldn’t.

On the other hand, Abbott stated that he is perfectly aware of the fact that many people have to deal with traumas caused by such events, and highlighted the measures he has taken with regard to these problems, one of which is the death penalty for rapists over the age of 17.

As previously stated, the only exception that can be made concerns people with medical conditions. If a person’s health will be at risk due to giving birth, the Texas abortion law permits medical specialists to perform the surgery. According to the anti-abortion organization called Texas Right to Life, more than 2,000 lives have been spared ever since the adoption of the regulation.