Flying in the face of the 40-year Roe v. Wade decision, an Arkansas Senate panel OK’d a bill today that would ban abortion at the state level if a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Only two of the eight-member Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted no on the measure. The Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, will now advance to the full Senate.
Before the House can vote on the measure, it will be up for inspection by the House Public Health Committee.
A fetal heartbeat can be detected at 6 weeks, Rapert testified, according to Arkansas News. He further added the U.S. Supreme Court stated in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that states have a right to protect life at the point of viability.
The bill does contain language that would allow abortion in instances of rape, incest or threat to the mother’s life.
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