Abortion law passes in Arkansas
By: Jade Cunningham
Updated: March 7, 2013
It's the most restrictive abortion law in the country, and the state of Arkansas is the first to pass it.
The Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act was originally vetoed by Governor Mike Beebe, because he believed it was unconstitutional.
But both the Senate and House overrode his decision, and voted for the passing of the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act.
The bill states that anyone looking to get an abortion, must be tested to see if a fetal heartbeat is found.
If one is detected, and the pregnancy is 12 weeks or over, the abortion would be banned.
Chairman of the Miller County Republican Party, Larry Pritchett says, they're behind the bill 100%.
"We stand with the unborn and the unprotected. We stand up for them and anytime we have a General Assembly in the state of Arkansas, if they have the means to vote on these laws, I thank God they support that."
In 1973, the United States Supreme Court legalized the right to an abortion in all 50 states (Roe vs. Wade).
While some palces have no time limit for the procedure, others allow it to be done about 28 weeks into the pregnancy.
But Wednesday, the Arkansas Legislature changed that for their state.
Opponents of the bill say they plan on challenging the decision.
The House voted Wednesday 56-33, while the Senate voted Tuesday 20-14.
The Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act was originally vetoed by Governor Mike Beebe, because he believed it was unconstitutional.
But both the Senate and House overrode his decision, and voted for the passing of the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act.
The bill states that anyone looking to get an abortion, must be tested to see if a fetal heartbeat is found.
If one is detected, and the pregnancy is 12 weeks or over, the abortion would be banned.
Chairman of the Miller County Republican Party, Larry Pritchett says, they're behind the bill 100%.
"We stand with the unborn and the unprotected. We stand up for them and anytime we have a General Assembly in the state of Arkansas, if they have the means to vote on these laws, I thank God they support that."
In 1973, the United States Supreme Court legalized the right to an abortion in all 50 states (Roe vs. Wade).
While some palces have no time limit for the procedure, others allow it to be done about 28 weeks into the pregnancy.
But Wednesday, the Arkansas Legislature changed that for their state.
Opponents of the bill say they plan on challenging the decision.
The House voted Wednesday 56-33, while the Senate voted Tuesday 20-14.
