June 2019 – On Thursday, March 21, Gov. Phil Bryant (R-MS) signed one of the nation’s strictest abortion bills into law, outlawing most procedures once a fetal heartbeat can be detected – generally around six weeks into pregnancy. The new law specifies a physician who performs an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat could face revocation of his or her license.
The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights called the bill “blatantly unconstitutional” and has sued the state to block the law from going into effect on July 1. The group tweeted “the term ‘heartbeat bill’ is a manipulative misnomer. These bills actually rob women of their choice to have an abortion before they even know they’re pregnant.”
“We will answer to the good Lord one day,” Gov. Bryant responded. “I will say in this instance, ‘I fought for the lives of innocent babies, even under the threat of legal action.’”
