Iowa’s Steve King introduces ‘heartbill bill’ TRAP, banning abortions after fetal cardiac activity detected
Iowa representative Steve King has introduced the first so-called “heartbeat bill” at the federal level. The TRAP (targeted regulation of abortion providers) law would issue a nationwide ban on abortions from the moment fetal cardiac activity can be detected. This typically happens around the 6-week mark before many women even realize they’re pregnant.
In a press release about the bill, King called landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade “unconstitutional,” stating that “Human life, beginning at the moment of conception, is sacred in all of its forms and today, I introduced a bill that will protect the lives of voiceless innocents. My legislation will require all physicians, before conducting an abortion, to detect the heartbeat of the unborn child.”
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“If a heartbeat is detected, the baby is protected.”
King went on: “America was founded on the concept that our rights come from God. All human persons have a right to life. How then could we confer that those rights allow the killing of a baby? I believe our most important responsibility that God has bestowed upon us is to protect innocent human life, and I will continue to dedicate my life to that responsibility.”
The bill has an exception for the life of the mother in the case of “a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, but not including psychological or emotional conditions.”
It also clarifies that “a mother upon whom an abortion is performed” is not liable and may not be prosecuted under the legislation.
Leading with “Wingnut” to describe King, Portland Mercury’s article states: “It’s important to point out here that the bill this jackass is introducing is copycat legislation based on an Ohio law that Governor John Kasich vetoed because it wouldn’t have made it through the courts if it was challenged. Because, lest we forget, the right to an abortion is constitutionally derived and protected.”
