On Tuesday, October 6th, Ohio legislature passed what's called the Heartbeat Bill. This bill states that a woman is prohibited from receiving an abortion after a heartbeat is detected in a fetus, normally around 6 weeks is when a heartbeat can be found. At 6 weeks, most women don't even know they are pregnant. Governor Kasich(R) has yet to sign or veto the bill; he has until 10 days after the bill passes to make a decision, if he does nothing, the bill will become a law. If this unconstitutional bill passes, it would be the most restrictive law for abortion in the U.S.. "One, a new president, new Supreme Court justice appointees change the dynamic, and that there was a consensus in our caucus to move forward," this was said by Republican Ohio Senate President Keith Farber. Here Farber is indirectly stating that in light of the recent election, Ohio feels they have a chance of passing this bill into a law. Even if this bill does become a law, there is still hope in the Supreme Court naming it unconstitutional on the basis of 1973 Roe v. Wade.
In the case of Roe v Wade, it was established that women have the right to their own privacy and the freedom do what they feel is right for themselves, their body, their mind and their life. It is their choice and their choice alone. A man, doctor, government official, no one has the right to tell a woman what decision she should make for her own body. This bill and soon to be Republican government has no right to tell women they cannot make this decision for themselves. Even though the government outlawed the owning of humans approximately 200 years ago, the Republican government today is finding its own way of owning women's bodies.
So what does this mean for women?
What does this mean for women who are sick and unable to support a pregnancy?
What does this mean for victims of rape?
What does this mean for victims of incest?
It means that the so said "pro-life" Republican government has more respect for the life of an unborn fetus than a woman's. It means that the woman who is a victim of rape will be forced to raise her rapist's child or place the child for adoption, still having to carry the rapist's child for 9 months. It means women don't get to choose what they need for themselves.
