Texas' New Abortion Law: Learn the Facts
- Neha Regis
- Jul 12, 2021
- 3 min read
In America, abortion is a very controversial topic. The pro-life and pro-choice debate has been going on for years. However, the data shows that abortion rates are decreasing fast. From 2011 to 2017, the United States saw a 20.1% decline. The reason for this is the new abortion laws that have been passed all across the country.
Recently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that banned abortions after six weeks. This proposed act also applies to cases of rape and incest, and the only exception is medical emergencies. The law is said to take effect in September 2021 and overturns the 1973 Supreme court ruling, known to us as Roe vs. Wade. The court allowed the termination of pregnancies nationwide before 24 weeks. The heartbeat bill changes the ban from six months to just six weeks.
Texas has strict rules when it comes to abortion, but some countries have even harsher rules. Mississippi law bans abortions after 15 weeks, and the state has experienced a 16.7% increase in abortions. The Philippines has banned abortion entirely, and 93% of the population views it as unacceptable. States like South Carolina and Idaho have similar heartbeat bills in place and have also seen similar declines in abortion rates.
Although many states have similar bills, The Texas Tribune says, “Texas’ version has a twist.” This act is not enforced by the government. Instead, the people have the power. According to the Texas legislature, regular people have the right to sue those that have or assist in abortions after a heartbeat is detected.
The two sides of the abortion debate are pro-life and pro-choice. Pro-life means you view abortion as wrong. Governor Gregg Abbott says, “Our creator endowed us with the right to life, and yet millions of children lose their right to life every year because of abortion.” On the other hand, people that identify as pro-choice think, women should dictate their own bodies. For example, Bernie Sanders stated, “The decision of abortion should remain a decision for the woman, her family, and a physician to make, not the government.”
Along with having opinions on abortion, many people also have different views on Texas’ new law. Abortion supporters, like Diana Gomez, advocacy manager at Progress Texas says, "this abortion ban contains some of the most extreme abortion restrictions in the country." However, Drucilla Tigner, reproductive rights political strategist at the ACLU of Texas, believes that “abortion is both legal in Texas and supported by the majority of Texans.”
Although abortion does not increase mental health disorders in women, it is still a tough procedure to undergo. Many women do not want to terminate their pregnancy, but sometimes they have to. Before developing an opinion, do the research and try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
The Delphi wants to hear your opinions on abortion and Texas’ new law. Comment what you think. You can also email us at thedelphinews@gmail.com or DM us @thedelphinews.
Websites you can visit for more information:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/19/politics/texas-abortion-heartbeat-ban/index.html. www.statista.com/statistics/297281/global-views-on-abortion/.
Najmabadi, Shannon. “Texas ‘Heartbeat Bill’ Becomes Law, Banning Abortions as Early as Six Weeks.” The Texas Tribune, The Texas Tribune, 19 May 2021, www.texastribune.org/2021/05/18/texas-heartbeat-bill-abortions-law/. Accessed 6 June 2021.
Kelly, Caroline. “Supreme Court to Take up Case next Term That Could Limit Roe v. Wade.” CNN, 19 May 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/05/19/politics/texas-abortion-heartbeat-ban/index.html. Accessed 23 June 2021.
“Global Views on Abortion 2013 | Statista.” Statista, Statista, 2013, www.statista.com/statistics/297281/global-views-on-abortion/. Accessed 30 June 2021.
APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion. “Abortion and Mental Health.” Https://Www.apa.org, 2018, www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/abortion. Accessed 30 June 2021.
“Roe v. Wade | Summary, Origins, & Influence | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2021, www.britannica.com/event/Roe-v-Wade. Accessed 30 June 2021.
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