The Center for Reproductive Rights has announced a suit has been filed against SB 2116, the Heartbeat bill that would effectively restrict abortions around the 6-8 week gestational period.
JWHO 6 week heartbeat ban l… by on Scribd
FILED: We’re challenging a 6-week abortion ban in Mississippi. We blocked the state’s 15-week ban just months ago, & they responded by passing an even more extreme version.
Plain and simple: this is unconstitutional. We’ll keep taking them to court until they get the message. pic.twitter.com/WThC0q3VYA
— Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) March 28, 2019
The bill was signed into law by Governor Phil Bryant last week among a crowd of legislators that were in support of the restriction.
“We are going to try and protect that child whenever we can. We think this is showing the profound and respect and desire of Mississippians to protect the sanctity of that very unborn life whenever possible,” said Governor Bryant. “It also protects, we believe, the physical and mental health to the mother. We here in Mississippi believe in protecting and defending the whole life of that child.”
That bill is now headed to court to determine whether or not the restriction is considered unconstitutional.
As the bill moved through the Capitol one major point of contention for those in opposition was a potential lawsuit. Just last year when the 15-week abortion bill (HB 1510), championed by former Representative now Commissioner of Ag and Commerce Andy Gipson was signed into law it was also challenged in court and eventually overturned.
RELATED: 15-week abortion ban bill overturned by District Judge Carlton Reeves
For that bill, Judge Reeves wrote that “Mississippi’s law violates Supreme Court precedent, and in doing so it disregards the 14th Amendment guarantee of autonomy for women desiring to control their own reproductive health.”
Several Representatives and Senators brought this point up as they argued against the legislation asking why lawmaker would pass a bill, even more restrictive than one already overturned by a judge.
Sen. Dawkins is clearly speaking against the bill, saying that the Supreme Court has already ruled that these kinds of bills are limiting the rights of women and she calls that an outrage #msleg
— Yall Politics (@MSyallpolitics) February 13, 2019
“Mississippians believe in the sanctity of life. I do not apologize for fighting for the lives of unborn children,” said Lt. Governor Tate Reeves.
The bill had strong support and opposition through both chambers but eventually was passed in both the Senate and House, and then the Senate concurred on the bill’s strike all offered by the House by a vote of 34-15.
Sarah Ulmer
