Democrat Attorney General Merrick Garland claims the Texas Heartbeat Act is ‘one that all Americans, whatever their politics or party, should fear.’
On September 1, the Texas Heartbeat Act took effect in the Lone Star State. Signed in May by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, the law requires abortionists to screen for a preborn baby’s heartbeat and prohibits abortion if a heartbeat can be heard (generally as early as six weeks), with exceptions only for medical emergencies.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut. 30:19
Instead of having the state prosecute violators, the law “exclusively” empowers private citizens to bring civil suits against abortionists, punishable by a minimum of $10,000 in statutory relief per abortion plus whatever additional injunctive relief is deemed “sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.”
This unique enforcement mechanism has been credited for the U.S. Supreme Court’s surprising decision not to block the law from taking effect, as well as the decisions of abortion chains Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health to temporarily suspend abortions past six weeks in the state.
On Thursday, however, Forbes reports that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the administration’s lawsuit against the Act, making good on Democrat President Joe Biden’s threat to undertake a “whole-of-government effort” to restore abortion-on-demand in Texas. Read More
