Idaho governor signs heartbeat bill with caveat

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Idaho Gov. Brad Little (Rep.) signed a bill Tuesday that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected – but a caveat in the bill provides it will not take effect until a federal appeals court elsewhere in the US upholds it, the Washington Examiner reports.

The bill provides that anyone who performs an abortion after a heartbeat is detectable (as early as six weeks gestation) could be jailed for up to five years, the Examiner said.

While the bill provides exceptions for race, incest, and medical emergencies, critics have said the legislation places a heavy burden on women to prove they were raped in time to have an abortion, the Examiner reports. Critics have also said the medical emergencies clause is too vague.

In any event, Governor Little said in a statement about the bill that: “Idaho is a state that values the most innocent of all lives — the lives of babies. We should never relent in our efforts to protect the lives of the preborn.”

“Hundreds and hundreds of babies lose their lives every year in Idaho due to abortion, an absolute tragedy. I appreciate Idaho lawmakers for continuing to protect lives by passing this important legislation, and I am proud to sign the bill into law today,” Little said.

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