As Georgia, Mississippi and Others Protect Unborn Babies with Heartbeat Laws, American Family Association Calls on More States to Do the Same

TUPELO, Miss.—Another state has made a strong stance for pre-born babies with the signing of a “heartbeat” law.

Last week, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed his state’s heartbeat bill, which will ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, about six weeks into a pregnancy.

Similar laws are already in place in Mississippi, Ohio and Kentucky. Alabama, Louisiana and Missouri are either considering or close to passing their own heartbeat legislation, according to Fox News and the Associated Press. If these laws survive court challenges, it will be nearly impossible for most pregnant women to get abortions in these states, thereby helping to end abortion entirely, says the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net).

When its home state of Mississippi passed its heartbeat bill, AFA applauded both lawmakers and Gov. Phil Bryant for the decisive action.

Now, AFA is calling on other states to protect their unborn babies as well.

“We believe that life begins at conception,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “Furthermore, a baby’s heartbeat can be detected at six weeks of pregnancy according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) website. ACOG further indicates that in the sixth to eighth week of pregnancy, all major organs have started to develop, as well as the baby’s eyes, ears and nose. Even Planned Parenthood recognizes these same scientific facts.

“A baby in the womb has her own unique DNA, her own unique heartbeat, her own unique fingerprints,” he added. “She’s not just a part of the mother, but her own, unique person. Every baby, both born and unborn, deserves to have their life protected.”

Rob Chambers, vice president for AFA Action, the governmental affairs affiliate of the American Family Association, said family organizations like AFA expect the heartbeat laws will be challenged in lower courts.

“Ultimately, we hope these laws will eventually challenge Roe v. Wade,” Chambers said. “In 45 years, Roe v. Wade has never been challenged on the question of when life begins. But today, the science is clear. Life begins at conception. Not only does life begin at conception, but the unborn child’s heart begins beating about six weeks after conception. When it comes to the argument of women’s rights, at least half of aborted babies are female, too. And their lives deserve protection. We look forward to the day when all lives in the womb are treasured and protected. That will only happen when abortion becomes a thing of the past.”

As evidence, Chambers pointed to a 2017 Barna poll that found that 69 percent of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, Independents and Democrats, support legal protections of a baby’s life when a heartbeat is detected.

AFA noted that New York, Virginia and Rhode Island have pushed to remove restrictions on abortion to take the godless act even further and added that, in all, 20-plus states allow abortion of full-term babies.

• Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) signed a law allowing abortions up to live birth.
• Ralph Northam (D-VA) made comments indicating he supports infanticide or the murder of a newborn baby.
• Gina Raimondo (D-RI) pushed for a bill to allow abortions until live birth.

Those wishing to contact their state legislators about heartbeat bills may do so at AFA’s “Contact Officials” page. Visitors to the site can enter their zip code to find elected officials in their state.

View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.

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To interview a representative from the American Family Association, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or ext. 100.