Days after signing two bills on abortion restrictions, news of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s infamous decision is still making the rounds online. The bills were subjected to a special emergency process that made them immediately effective following the governor’s signing.
Referred to as House Bill 2, the first proposal is requiring a physician and/or a medical technician to carry out an ultrasound before a female patient is able to have an abortion. Specifically, the ultrasound images should be described and displayed to be seen by the mother; the fetal heartbeat’s audio should also be made available. However, the mother is free to “avert her eyes” from the unborn baby’s photos and to request for the volume of the heartbeat’s audio to be turned down or completely off, as stated in the bill’s text.
The second bill, known as Senate Bill 5, is putting a stop to abortions when the 20th week of pregnancy, at least, has been reached. Therefore, women who are pregnant at 20 weeks or later will not be allowed to have an abortion. The bill is not applicable to cases when the abortion is necessary to save the mother’s life by preventing severe risks or harm to her body. However, the bill does not offer exceptions for rape and incest cases.
In an official statement released to the public, Bevin said: This is truly a new day in Kentucky,” after he placed his signatures on the two bills and the proposals passed the state Legislature led by the Republicans last week.
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union has expressed its immediate disapproval over the bills and filed a lawsuit on Monday. Kentucky ACLU communications director Amber Duke said the group has already made a request for an emergency temporary restraining order. Together with the ACLU Foundation, the ACLU of Kentucky legally challenged the ultrasound bill on behalf of the EMW Women’s Surgical Center, a Kentucky-based outpatient abortion facility.
Cecile Richards, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America President, has spoken out against the 20-week-pregnancy ban on abortion, saying that it "is not just shameful -- it's dangerous for women."
"A woman has the right to make her own personal, private decisions about her health and medical care. This bill takes that right away," she added. "Make no mistake -- Kentuckians flat out reject these abortion bans and attacks on reproductive health care."
As for the National Right to Life Committee, state legislation director Ingrid Duran believes that the ruling "sets a tone for the 2017 session in all states: that the unborn child deserves protection."
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