On Thursday, May 30, 2019, Governor John Bel Edwards made Louisiana the ninth state to pass various anti-abortion legislation. The state of Louisiana follows its conservative neighbors by passing the heartbeat bill SB 184, which places a ban on abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. SB 184 is the first heartbeat bill signed into law by a Democratic governor.

This bill will not allow abortion to take place after a fetal heartbeat is detected, nor will it include exceptions for rape and incest cases. Physicians who perform these procedures may face up to 10 years in prison while paying $100,000 in fines. However, women will not be charged for undergoing the procedure.

This could indicate a shift in the pro-life movement, as this bill was originally drafted by Senate Democrat John Milkovich.

In the lower chamber, Democratic State Representative Katrina Jackson has moved to make life a bipartisan issue, stating,

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican, black or white – we fight for life.”

However, not everyone views this bill as a step in a positive direction. Critics of Louisiana leaders, such as NARAL Pro-Choice America political director Nicole Brener-Schmitz, claim that,

“Governor John Bel Edwards turned his back on the women of Louisiana today at a time when they needed him most. As anti-choice politicians pass dangerous and unconstitutional bans on abortion before many women know they’re pregnant, people in Louisiana and across the country are watching closely. … He won’t get a pass just because he is a Democrat.”

Despite the negative commentary, it is truly extraordinary to see a divided political field come together on the right to life. No matter what side of the political aisle our politicians are on, it is a huge step forward to see everyone uniting in the fight for human dignity and the protection of the preborn.

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Maddie is a college student passionate about freedom, true crime, and saving babies.

The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Human Defense Initiative.