Ohio has become the latest of seven US states to pass a law protecting unborn babies from abortion after a heartbeat is detected.
The Bill was signed last week by Governor Mike DeWine, the third of its kind to be adopted in the US this year.
Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said: “While other states embrace radical legislation to legalize abortion on demand through the ninth month of pregnancy, Ohio has drawn a line and continues to advance protections for unborn babies.”
Protections
Ohio’s new law could protect babies from abortion as early as six weeks.
Physicians who abort babies with a detectable heartbeat may be fined up to $20,000 and face up to one year in prison.
During the debate, pro-life groups gathered outside the state capital building and repeatedly sang ‘Amazing Grace’ in support of the move.
‘Educate’
In January, New York passed its Reproductive Health Act effectively legalising unrestricted late-term abortions, in some cases up until the point of birth.
Writing for the National Review, Alexandra Desanctis said ‘heartbeat’ bills “create an opportunity to educate Americans about the facts of embryology and fetal development by highlighting the scientific fact that a fetal heartbeat can be detected so early in pregnancy”.
She said a recent Rasmussen poll revealed that after being told that a baby’s heartbeat can be detected at the six week mark, over half of American’s supported banning abortions from that point.