Texas Senate votes to ban abortion once heartbeat is detected

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Texas Senate has passed a ‘heartbeat’ bill that would ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, Lifesite News reports. Bill 8 is one of three right-to-life bills passed by the state Senate on Tuesday; all three bills are now headed to the Texas House for debate.

The heartbeat bill was sponsored by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, and requires medical staff to check for a fetal heartbeat and prohibit abortion if one is found. There would be criminal penalties for anyone who violates the measure.

“In a statement, Texas Right to Life said: “These three bills passed today represent the boldest Pro-Life policies to ever be endorsed by the Texas Senate. Since each measure stops abortion, draws attention to the humanity of the preborn child, and undermines the flawed legal foundation of Roe vs. Wade, these are the priorities for Texas Right to Life during this Legislature.”

While Bill 8 was introduced by a Republican, it has support from pro-life Democratic State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Life Site News said. Mr. Lucio reportedly defended the bill when his fellow Democratic state Senator described the bill as a “mockery.” In response, Mr. Lucio said: “For you to use the word mockery, it offends me… If anything, to stand for abortion really makes a mockery of the sanctity of life.”

Notably, Senator Lucio, an Hispanic American pro-life activist, was attacked with racial slurs by abortion provider Planned Parenthood during his primary run-off election campaign against a pro-abortion candidate in Texas last year.

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