Alabama Passes Bill Banning Almost All Abortions, Including Cases Involving Rape And Incest

Republican-controlled Alabama is set to become the state with the most strict abortion laws after approving a bill that would ban all abortions with the exception of when the mother’s life is in danger.

This new legislation now directly challenges the Roe v. Wade law, a case that was settled on recognizing a woman’s constitutional right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. If passed into law, #AlabamaAbortionBill will also criminalize the procedure for doctors, who can be charged with felonies and face up to 99 years in prison. The new bill almost entirely bans all circumstances for abortion,  including rape or incest.

The state’s Republican governor, Kay Ivey, is expected to sign it into law. The bill’s sponsor Rep. Terry Collins says there were two goals with passing the bill after voting: “This bill is about challenging Roe v. Wade and protecting the lives of the unborn, because an unborn baby is a person who deserves love and protection.”

The House approved the bill in a 74-3 vote. “You’ve got 27 men over on the other side ready to tell women what they can do with their bodies,” Democratic Sen. Bobby Singleton said. “You don’t have to procedurally just try to railroad us.” This new bill now directly conflicts with the Supreme Court’s ruling that it is against the law to place an “undue burden” on a woman seeking an abortion before a viable fetus –  one that can live outside the womb – emerges.

This is just another state that is taking the steps to slowly but surely and unjustly remove the rights of women and their bodies. Last month, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed off on a “fetal heartbeat” law, which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can come as early as the 6-week mark, a period of time when a woman may still be unaware that she is pregnant.  Following behind these two states is Missouri, which is also looking into joining the anti-abortion laws. “We will protect unborn children capable of feeling pain,” Missouri senator Bill Onder said of the legislative maneuver to take up the issue,” said Onder, KOMU reports. “We will protect children who are the victims of brutal, dismemberment abortions. We will protect babies with heartbeats.”