Mississippi as a role model
Florida makes abortions much more difficult
04/14/2022, 10:31 p.m
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Bad news for Florida women: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation making abortions after the 15th week nearly impossible. The law already applies in Mississippi, other states could follow. The rules in Texas are even stricter.
The US state of Florida introduces a far-reaching ban on abortions after the 15th week. Florida’s governor, Republican Ron DeSantis, signed the bill into law in Kissimmee. “We are here today to defend those who cannot defend themselves,” DeSantis said.
The law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. This means that abortions in Florida after the 15th week of pregnancy would only be possible as an exception, for example if the life of the mother is in danger or the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but not in the case of rape, for example. The rule follows the model of the new Mississippi state abortion law currently under review by the Supreme Court.
Other Republican-led US states are also trying to largely restrict access to abortions. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a law on Tuesday that would make having an abortion in the state punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 (€92,000).
In Texas, a child’s heartbeat counts
A change in the law in Texas also caused a lot of excitement: a strict abortion law has also been in force there since last year. It bans all abortions once the fetal heartbeat has been determined. This can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. Many women do not even know at this point that they are pregnant.
According to a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court in 1973, abortions are actually permitted in the United States until the fetus is viable – today around the 24th week of pregnancy. The decision is considered a milestone. This case law, known as Roe v. Wade is now up for grabs. If the Supreme Court decides that Mississippi’s abortion law is constitutional, other states could also further restrict abortion.
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