Kentucky’s House passed Senate Bill 9, a fetal heartbeat bill, by a vote of 71 to 19 last night. SB 9 bans most abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The measure requires anyone seeking an abortion to first determine if a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically about six weeks into pregnancy. The bill now moves on to Governor Matt Bevin’s desk.
Republican Rep. Chris Fugate sponsored SB 9 on the House floor. Fugate said for him, this bill is not political but is about the millions of babies that have been killed. In February, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 31 to 6. While the bill was in committee, April Lanham, a woman 18 weeks pregnant, allowed the room of people to hear her preborn baby’s heartbeat by way of an electronic monitor. Afterward she stated that she did so because the heartbeat would be a “powerful noise” for lawmakers to hear.
Governor Matt Bevin is expected to sign the bill. Because of an emergency clause, upon the governor’s signing, it will take effect immediately. The ACLU of Kentucky has expressed an intent to bring a lawsuit once the fetal heartbeat bill becomes law.
“Liberty Counsel commends the legislators of Kentucky for this move to protect the lives of the most innocent among us,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “If the vilest criminal cannot be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, then how much more should laws protect an innocent unborn child from the most despicable form of torture and death? Every state must fight to make the womb a safe place again,” said Staver.
