Recently, the Ohio legislature passed what is being called "The Heartbeat Bill". This bill states that a woman is not allowed to an abortion after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, which is at the six week mark. It is also beneficial to note that this bill, unlike others that were signed into law, will not have an exception for rape or incest cases; they will only allow abortions of fetuses after a heartbeat is detected if there is a medical emergency or necessity. Ohio Governor John Kasich now has to make the decison to sign the bill, veto the bill, or ignore it. The latter of the two would mean the bill does not become a law. No matter what your feelings are on abortion this law is unconstitutional and will not be in effect for very long.
In 1973, the landmark decision of Roe v Wade found abortion to be legal and that it was unconstitutional to deny a woman's right to privacy, which extended to reproductive rights. This decision has been widely challenged and debated throughout the years, but not as much as recently. The "Heartbeat Bill" would be a direct violation of Roe v Wade and would mean an almost complete ban on abortions in Ohio since almost all abortions are performed after the six week mark. Many organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union have already stated they will sue if the bill is signed into law. Signing this bill into law would cause many lawsuits against the state of Ohio and should not be supported.
This bill would cause massive outrage in not just Ohio, but the entire United States. Many groups have already started protesting the bill; protesters used wire coat hangers to hold up signs at the Ohio Statehouse that say "Healthcare not hangers". These statements clearly reference the issue of "Back-Alley Abortions", specifically referencing the dangerous, yet uncommon method of using a coat hanger to perform an abortion. This bill is heavily opposed by many people; it is clear the bill would be unconstitutional and now the state must wait for John Kasich to make this major decision.
