Indiana became the first state to pass an abortion restriction bill after the Supreme Court verdict of Roe v. Wade in June this year.
On Friday evening, Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill after it passed from both the state’s House and Senate.
Indiana Takes Lead in Banning Abortion Access
Under the new law, abortion will only be allowed in case of rape, incest, and when the life of the pregnant mother is in danger. Even rape and incest exceptions will only be applicable within the first 10 weeks of post-fertilization.
Now, only hospitals and outpatient centers of hospitals will be able to provide abortion access, which will close down all the private abortion clinics in the state of Indiana.
Doctors who indulge themselves in illegal abortion practices or fail to file necessary documents will lose their medical licenses.
Indiana lawmakers pass first post-Roe abortion ban https://t.co/bPrhlobo2T via @msnbc
— steve hamilton (@steve77ha) August 7, 2022
According to Indiana’s Republican governor, Eric Holcomb, this abortion restriction bill is in line with his vision of saving the lives of children.
While praising the measure, Holcomb noted the residents of Indiana are debating the issue of abortion in big numbers; this debate will only intensify with time.
Holcomb added he is proud of every resident of his state who came forward and took part in the national abortion debate.
Likewise, Republican state representative Wendy McNamara asserted Indiana has now become “one of the most pro-life states” in the United States after the passage of the legislation.
State Senator Sue Glick emphasized most states will not pass this type of legislation, adding most Indiana residents support banning abortion access across the state.
Indiana Abortion Bill Brings State Republicans to Crossroads
Indiana Senator Jean Breaux is speaking on the abortion ban Senate Bill 1 now. She said, “We are backsliding on democracy.” I fear we are destroying democracy entirely with this vote.
— Zeroes and Ones (@JustaZeroandOne) August 5, 2022
Though not all Republican lawmakers of the state sided with the legislation. A GOP state representative, Ann Vermilion, noted the Republican Party should not label pro-abortion Americans as “murderers.”
Similarly, a GOP representative, Mike Bohacek, whose daughter suffered from Down syndrome in the past, claimed the newly passed legislation does not provide enough support for disabled women who get raped.
Indiana Senate Democrats also slammed the bill on Twitter. The group noted the legislation is massive government overreach that imposes state-mandated pregnancy on mothers whose fundamental rights are being compromised.
Some Republican lawmakers proposed amendments to remove the rape and incest exceptions. Todd Houston, the speaker of the House, and Mike Karickhoff, Speaker Pro Tempore, voted against the amendments.
The existing law of Indiana allows abortion access up to 20 weeks of post-fertilization, but the newly passed bill will go into effect from September 15.
After the passage of the bill, some woke corporations came forward to denounce the legislation.
One of the biggest employees of Indiana, Eli Lilly, indicated it would start growing outside the state of Indiana as lawmakers passed the bill by ignoring the sentiments of residents of the state.
