Iowa Republicans passed a bill that would make most abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. This bill was passed during a special session and it prohibits abortions after a baby’s heartbeat can be detected.
While there are exceptions for cases such as saving the mother’s life or miscarriages and fetal abnormalities deemed “incompatible with life”, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds promised to sign the bill into law as early as Friday, July 14th.
Anti-life protestors have been demonstrating outside of the Capitol in response to this legislation, claiming that it is fascist and oppressive.
They believe that women should have the ‘right’ to kill their unborn children without any ramifications. Planned Parenthood North Central States issued a statement saying they will exhaust all options to ensure Iowans maintain ‘control over their bodily autonomy’ now and for generations to come.
The passing of this bill is sure to cause tension in both Iowa specifically and throughout America generally speaking; debates on both sides are likely to arise from this controversial move by Iowa Republicans.
For the few days until Governor Reynolds signs the bill into law on Friday, abortion is still legal up until twenty weeks of pregnancy in Iowa – however, all eyes are currently on what happens next in regards to this issue between now and then.
As reported by Gateway Pundit:
Iowa Republicans passed legislation late Tuesday night that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
The bill, which bans abortions after a baby’s heartbeat can be detected, was passed just after 11 p.m. during a special session.
Abortion rights demonstrators calling GOP presidential candidate @VivekGRamaswamy “fascist” as he talks with the crowd gathered at Iowa Capitol. #ialegis pic.twitter.com/r2MfiZejHD
— Tom Barton (@tjbarton83) July 11, 2023
Exceptions can be made to save the mother’s life, miscarriages, and fetal abnormalities that a doctor determines are “incompatible with life.”
There are also exceptions for cases of rape and incest, provided that the rape was reported to law enforcement or a physician within 45 days — or 140 days in the case of incest.
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds had called the special session for the purpose of enacting legislation that would protect life. Lawmakers and members of the public debated the measure for approximately 15 hours as pro-abortion protesters caused a scene outside the chamber.
Iowans are here at the State Capitol standing against the @IowaGOP’s efforts to ban abortion in Iowa!! pic.twitter.com/z5HLpxneUA
— Sami Scheetz (@SamiScheetz) July 11, 2023
Moments after the bill passed, she issued a statement that said she would sign it into law on Friday, July 14, 2023.
“Today, the Iowa legislature once again voted to protect life and end abortion at a heartbeat, with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother,” the governor said.
“The Iowa Supreme Court questioned whether this legislature would pass the same law they did in 2018, and today they have a clear answer,” Gov. Reynolds’ statement continued. “The voices of Iowans and their democratically elected representatives cannot be ignored any longer, and justice for the unborn should not be delayed.”
Gov. Reynolds’ statement continued, “As a pro-life Governor, I am also committed to continuing policies to support women in planning for motherhood, promote the importance of fatherhood, and encourage strong families. Our state and country will be stronger because of it.”
Tensions are rising at the Iowa Capitol. Loud, profane outburst from abortion rights demonstrators after House Health and Human Services Committee votes 14-6 on party lines to advance six-week abortion ban to the House floor. pic.twitter.com/7kXlsQmZIe
— Tom Barton (@tjbarton83) July 11, 2023
Unless a court intervenes, the law will go into effect when signed.
Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups and organizations have vowed to challenge the law.
“This is not the end of our fight for safe and legal abortion and reproductive health care,” Ruth Richardson, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement. “We will exhaust all options to ensure Iowans have control of their bodily autonomy, now and for generations to come.”
For the next few days, abortion is legal in the state until 20 weeks of pregnancy.
