Texas’ Heartbeat Law is a historic precedent in the battle to protect Life
There are plenty of reasons to be a proud Texan – business friendly, tasty BBQ, top tier sports teams, Big Bend National Park, Whataburger and so much more. As a native Texan, devout Catholic and avid pro-lifer, today especially, I could not be prouder to call the great state of Texas home. Texas has always been known as the “friendly state” and with the Texas Heartbeat Bill recently enacted it just got friendlier to the unborn.
The new legislation, which will save thousands of unborn babies’ lives, is not only a win for the state of Texas and pro-life communities but for all the unborn children who may not otherwise see the light of day.
Texas now is saving from abortion every unborn child with a detectable heartbeat. The Texas Heartbeat Bill bans abortions after the first six weeks of pregnancy—the timeframe in which a heartbeat is usually detected.
An emergency petition filed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU to stop the legislation from taking effect, but it failed to sway the United States Supreme Court. It refused to intervene, and the Texas Heartbeat Bill became law on September 1, 2021.
The Texas Heartbeat law was met with great joy and gratitude from pro-lifers everywhere.
“Texas leads the way in protecting the unborn,” says PRI President Steve Mosher. “I have spoken in many states urging the passage of Heartbeat legislation, including Texas. I couldn’t be happier about the Texas Heartbeat Act, which is saving babies every day.”
“The Texas Heartbeat Act is novel in approach, allowing for citizens to hold abortionists accountable through private lawsuits,” stated Rebecca Parma of the Texas Right to Life. She continues, “No heartbeat law passed by another state has taken this strategy. Additionally, the bill does not punish women who obtain abortions.”
The law is not enforced by the state, but rather exclusively through individuals, who can file lawsuits against those who perform or knowingly aid in the performance of an abortion after the fetal heartbeat is detectable.
Pro-life Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted, “No freedom is more precious than life itself. Starting today, every unborn child with a heartbeat will be protected from the ravages of abortion. Texas will always defend the right to life.”
The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates President Thomas Glessner said, “we congratulate Texas for being the first state in America to ban killing innocent children in the womb as early as six weeks in pregnancy. Furthermore, we applaud the U. S. Supreme Court for allowing the ban to take effect and saving lives.”
Texas is the first state in the United States pass this kind of law, but there is no doubt that several other states will follow suit. States such as Georgia, Florida and South Dakota are already in the beginning stages of implementing a similar law.
This law succeeds an earlier law, Senate Bill 8 signed into law on May 19, 2021, which made it a felony to commit dilation-and-evacuation abortions known as ‘live dismemberment’ on living preborn children, usually performed in the second trimester of pregnancy. The Texas legislature claimed it was a “brutal and inhumane” procedure—which it certainly is.
After the signing of this newest law, crisis pregnancy centers are anticipating a surge in patients. Several pro-life organizations, including the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, LoveLine.com, the Human Coalition Action, have committed to redouble their efforts to protect women facing unexpected pregnancies and their unborn children.
According to Chelsey Youman, Texas legislative director for the group Human Coalition Action, “the Legislature and Governor prioritized this historic legislation, and with his signature, approximately 50,000 precious human lives will be saved in Texas next year alone!”
The Texas Heartbeat Law is great news on so many levels.
The developed world is in the midst of a serious demographic crisis. Birth rates are falling in the US and around the world, and are especially low in Europe. Hungary saw this danger years ago and decided to act in order to rectify the loss in numbers. They committed themselves to aid families and send the message that children are a gift to society. Because of these pro-life policies, birth rates have increased in Hungary. They met their demographic crisis head-on, unlike many of their neighboring countries, which are dying. Hungary recognized that the only future a nation has are its children.
Similarly, Texas has just passed a law that will help to prove to its citizens that unborn babies are precious and that they, too, have a right to life. It is the solemn duty of all our elected officials to protect the lives of their citizens, especially lives of the most vulnerable and innocent.
Texas’ historic law goes into effect just as the Supreme Court is poised to consider another pro-life law: Mississippi’s new statute that restricts most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The outcome of this case — Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — will have enormous ramifications. Will the pro-life majority on the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade? If so, this will return the matter to the states, many of which, like Texas, will pass strong pro-life legislation.
Every abortion has two victims, one dead and one injured. The Texas Heartbeat Act is good news for Texas babies and women. We celebrate them and this pro-life victory which is now saving lives every day!
Viva Texas and long live the right to life!
