The Tennessee state Senate made a big move by passing a bill that grants protections against abortion for unborn babies.
Pro-Life Senate Passes Big Bill
The state Senate passed the pro-life legislation by a substantial majority vote of 23-5 on June 19, 2020, The Nashville Tennessean reported.
The bill made it through the state House this past week, but due to Tennessee’s legislative session being almost done for the year, many speculated that the Senate would not vote on the controversial bill.
It now goes to pro-life Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for a signature where it is much speculated that he will back this bill.
One of the most important things we can do to be pro-family is to protect the rights of the most vulnerable in our state, and there is none more vulnerable than the unborn.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) June 19, 2020
More Than Just a “Heartbeat” Bill
The legislation is being referred to as a heartbeat bill. In reality, the scope of its protections for the unborn includes many different factors, in addition to banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks.
However, there are reports that there is a provision that may allow for abortions to be banned once the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is detectable, usually around 11 days in pregnancy.
The legislation also denies women having the deadly procedure:
· If the doctor knows that the woman is seeking an abortion because of the child’s sex or race.
· If the doctor knows the woman is seeking an abortion due to a diagnosis of Down syndrome.
· For juveniles in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services, including removing the current option to petition a judge for permission.
There is an exemption written in if a woman’s life is in danger, but there are no exemptions for rape or incest cases.
Abortion Clinics Must Comply or Face Penalties
An amendment was added that also mandates that a sign be posted in abortion clinics’ waiting and patient rooms that inform people that there is a possibility for a chemical abortion reversal. Failing to do so comes with a potential $10,000 fine.
Anti-Abortion organizations have fought for six-week abortion bans in other states, such as Iowa, Georgia, Mississippi and Ohio, but have been stifled by judges voting against it.
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals said this about its ruling on the six-week abortion ban: “Because there is no genuine dispute that [North Dakota’s law] generally prohibits abortions before viability — as the Supreme Court has defined that concept — and because we are bound by Supreme Court precedent holding that states may not prohibit pre-viability abortions, we must affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs.”
Pro-Abortionists Threaten to Take Away Pro-Choice Efforts
The bill’s writers purposely factored in legal protections to take on the opposition, who wished to see this bill defeated at any cost. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has reportedly already made known its plans to sue, Life News reported.
WTVF News 5 wrote that state Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, showed his support in hopes that the courts will uphold the passed legislation.
“Every time we have passed a measure that was in favor of a life in the womb, it has been challenged in the courts…” Lamberth said. “This bill is in such solid legal footing. We feel good about the fact that it could save millions of lives. And those lives are their most vulnerable because they are still in their mother’s womb.”
While this pro-life legislation is expected to be made law when Gov. Lee presumably signs it, there will still be an uphill battle against pro-choice activists who will try their best to overturn this sacred stance on upholding life.
