From September 1, 2021, Texan women who want to have an abortion six weeks after conception could be turned in for a solid cash reward, after the passing of the Texas Heartbeat Act.
The act, which was passed in May, will allow people to sue medical companies (both private and public) for performing abortions after the detection of a baby’s heartbeat. People who wish to claim the $10,000 award don’t need to be citizens of the state.
Pro-Choice group Women’s March has noted that surgeons, medical staff, friends and others who facilitate an abortion could also be punished by the law.
Consequently, the opposition wants this law to be changed before it is set in stone.
Had to read this twice: under Texas’s new abortion ban, regular people (like your neighbor/coworker) can file suit against anyone who helps you get an abortion (your doctor…or even your Uber driver). And they get up to $10k per abortion for doing it! https://t.co/DFBoDx18Oy
— Cindi Leive (@cindi_leive) July 9, 2021
Back in May, Governor Greg Abbott signed a law that prohibits abortions six weeks after conception, even though there are some exceptions. Abortions are allowed if a woman’s life is at risk, but the law still stands if the baby was conceived as a consequence of rape or incest.
Jennifer Rubi of the Washington Post noted the following:
“Consider the potential for harassment, spying, extortion and other vengeful behavior directed toward women. The law depends on what others know about her reproductive health and are willing to tell the authorities to grab a $10,000 bounty.”
Consider the potential for harassment, spying, extortion and other vengeful behavior directed toward women. The law depends on what others know about her reproductive health and are willing to tell the authorities to grab a $10,000 bounty.https://t.co/hUvnBrAkDY
— Jennifer "Trump Convicted Felon" Rubin 🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@JRubinBlogger) July 12, 2021
MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid also stated her opinion on the matter:
“So now Texas Republicans are putting bounties on pregnant women. I almost hate to ask what this benighted party will think of next.”
Abortion rights advocates and providers have filed a federal lawsuit in Texas seeking to block a law empowering individuals to sue anyone assisting a woman with getting an abortion, including those who provide financial help or drive a patient to a clinic. https://t.co/Yg5y3nvGmZ
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 13, 2021
According to Professor Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas, the law raises a number of concerns:
“It’s a deeply cynical effort to both (1) chill conduct that ought to be constitutionally protected; and (2) provide cover for judges to find creative ways to dodge the merits of the constitutional challenge.”
Texas’ new anti-abortion law would let people sue anyone else for helping women get abortions, including nurses, clinics, and friends.
It’s a cruel tactic meant to insulate TX from federal lawsuits. But let’s be clear: it won't stop us from fighting back.https://t.co/Ps8oRKb4OP
— Women's March (@womensmarch) July 10, 2021
Six-week abortion bans in other states have all been branded unconstitutional as they’ve gone through the legal system, Fortune reported.
Rubi went on to expand on the issue:
“If they [Republicans] cannot win elections and defend their policy objectives, Republicans appear willing to burn down democratic elections and ‘equal justice under the law.”
