Disclaimer: To protect the views of the Etownian and myself, I will be using the term “fetus” to refer to the child/baby within the womb and “conception” to refer to the fertilization of an egg. I use the term “woman/women” throughout this piece, however, I understand that other individuals who do not identify as such can feel the effects of this law. The quotes of the students are not reflective of the Etownian’s views and entirely their own. The quotes may have been edited for length and clarity.
In May, Texas Governor Gregory Wayne Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 8. On Sept. 1, the bill came into effect. The U.S. Supreme Court has offered no pushback despite the precedent-setting case, Roe v. Wade. The law prevents women from seeking an abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, as that is when most hearts develop within the womb. The “Heartbeat” Bill also does not give leniency to cases of rape or incest; however, it will permit abortion if the mother’s life is in danger. In addition, the law makes aiding anyone who seeks an abortion subject to civil action if someone suspects them. If a civil action is brought to someone the court awards no less than $10,000 in fines. This presses citizens to enforce the law, rather than the government.
Because of the bill silently becoming law, a lot of people across the country have been protesting against the bill and demanding the federal government take action. Others have sided with Texas and are counter-protesting. Essentially, the argument breaks down into Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. Of course, there are different beliefs of individuals within each group. However, here is the common notion of both groups:
Pro-Lifers believe in making abortions illegal. They think that life begins at conception and that no matter the circumstances, the fetus should be carried to birth. Because life begins at conception, they believe that abortion is murder and should be punished under the law. They believe that all life is created equal no matter the level of dependency and development, thus they believe the fetus has the right to life. An anonymous student from a survey stated, “It’s about time people start standing up for the rights of the unborn. It is morally and legally wrong to end the life of a living human being, and this bill is a step in the right direction towards making that a reality.”
Pro-Choicers believe in the legalization of abortion. They believe that women have the right to choose to carry the fetus as it is their body. They think that denying a woman the right to abortion denies them the right to bodily autonomy. Many criticize the fact that mainly male-identify lawmakers are the ones creating these laws. An anonymous student stated, “Men have no rights to women’s bodies.”
Concerns have arisen about Senate Bill 8. Some healthcare providers have stated that at the six week point, most women do not know that they are pregnant, depending on when conception occurs in relation to their menstruation cycle. In addition, abortion is still illegal if the woman is raped or if the conception is based on incest. For the women who feel no affection for their fetus, due to their trauma, this forces the woman to carry the fetus to birth. Also, many low-income and women of color may not have the means to pay the $10,000 fine for getting an abortion.
The response to this bill has gone viral. Users of the social media app, TikTok, have been promoting the flooding of the whistleblower websites. The websites are intended to be used to locate anyone trying to get an abortion or aiding someone in receiving an abortion. Adamant opposers to the bill have submitted memes, false accusations and loop their submission indefinitely to prevent actual tips to go through.
As of today, the first doctor, Alan Braid, has been sued for violating the new law. He has two pending lawsuits against him, both filed by plaintiffs. These lawsuits are intended to have a judge decide if the Senate 8 Bill is constitutional. Because of the wording within the bill itself, in the past, entities like Planned Parenthood have not been able to file a lawsuit against the bill, preventing it from becoming law. In addition, the Satanic Temple has lobbied for religious exemption for its followers. One of the beliefs of the Temple is to have the right to bodily autonomy. This law violates that right and belief.
At least seven state governors have made remarks about following in Texas’s footsteps.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has stated that he will oppose any similar abortion ban proposed by the Republican Party.
