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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/30/georgia-state-congress-approves-abortion-ban-if-foetus-has-heartbeat
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| Georgia state congress approves abortion ban if foetus has heartbeat | Georgia state congress approves abortion ban if foetus has heartbeat |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US state of Georgia has approved legislation outlawing abortions after a foetal heartbeat can be detected. If signed by the state’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, who campaigned in favour of tougher laws, it would become among the strictest abortion bans in the US. | |
| “Georgia values life,” Kemp said in a statement on Friday. “The legislature’s bold action reaffirms our priorities and who we are as a state.” | |
| It's grim time for abortion rights in the US, but activists are still energized | Arwa Mahdawi | It's grim time for abortion rights in the US, but activists are still energized | Arwa Mahdawi |
| The measure was approved by just one vote more than the majority needed to pass out of the House. | The measure was approved by just one vote more than the majority needed to pass out of the House. |
| Following the vote, a tense situation erupted when law enforcement confronted several Democratic lawmakers and protesters speaking against the bill in the halls of the Capitol, threatening to arrest people if a crowd did not disperse and stop chanting “shame”. | |
| Georgia joins a string of other GOP-controlled states moving to enact strict abortion bans, with the ultimate goal of getting a case in front of the US supreme court to challenge its 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that legalised abortion nationwide. | Georgia joins a string of other GOP-controlled states moving to enact strict abortion bans, with the ultimate goal of getting a case in front of the US supreme court to challenge its 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that legalised abortion nationwide. |
| The push comes amid rising optimism among conservatives that the restrictions might prevail in the reconfigured high court that includes Donald Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. | The push comes amid rising optimism among conservatives that the restrictions might prevail in the reconfigured high court that includes Donald Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. |
| Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy. A heartbeat can be detected in an embryo as early as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. | Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy. A heartbeat can be detected in an embryo as early as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. |
| The bill would make exceptions in the case of rape and incest – but only when the woman files a police report first – and to save the life of the mother. It also would allow for abortions when a foetus is determined not to be viable because of serious medical issues. | The bill would make exceptions in the case of rape and incest – but only when the woman files a police report first – and to save the life of the mother. It also would allow for abortions when a foetus is determined not to be viable because of serious medical issues. |
| The legislation faced a groundswell of opposition, including Democratic lawmakers and protesters saying on social media and in person that lawmakers who voted in favuor of the bill would be targeted in 2020 elections. | The legislation faced a groundswell of opposition, including Democratic lawmakers and protesters saying on social media and in person that lawmakers who voted in favuor of the bill would be targeted in 2020 elections. |
| If signed and not blocked in court, the Georgia law would take effect from 1 January 2020. | |
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