The Georgia General Assembly passed a bill in 2019 that made abortion illegal once the baby’s heartbeat can be detected. It was quickly signed by Governor Brian Kemp (Republican from Georgia). Although the bill was referred to as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act (LIFE Act) by its sponsors, most people refer to it as the Fetal Heartbeat Law.
Kemp stated that Georgia values life at that time. “We stand up to the innocent and speak out for those who are unable to speak for themselves. The bold actions of the legislature reaffirm our priorities and define who we are as a nation.”
It does more than ban abortion. It allows pregnant women to request child support for their unborn children and provides tax exemptions for babies born before they enter the world. We only hear about the ban on abortion because that is what the left and their willing compatriots in the media are pursuing.
From the beginning, the state was prepared for legal challenges. Within days of the bill’s passage in Congress, the ACLU threatened legal action. SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, an abortion provider (it’s almost as if someone tried to fit as much left-winger into one group name), eventually sued other individuals and organizations.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the LIFE Act permission following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. This decision returned the question of abortion back to the states.
Kemp stated in a statement that Georgia’s court had paved the way for the implementation of Georgia’s LIFE Act. “As mothers navigate pregnancy and birth, parenthood or other options to parenthood — such as adoption — Georgia’s private, public, and non-profit sector stands ready to offer the resources they require to be safe and healthy.”
Stacey Abrams tweeted, “Today Brian Kemp accomplished his goal: To endanger women and strip away our rights to choose and deny us the ability to make medical decisions.” Although it took over three years for the law to become effective, its impact is evident: women in Kemp’s Georgia are now second-class citizens.
The Georgia Supreme Court will hear the LIFE Act on Tuesday.
Axios provided a concise explanation of what is happening, despite the politically charged headline “Fate of Georgian abortion rights comes down to this major case in court.”
Appeal after appeal, the fate, and validity of the ban rest with the highest court in the state, which temporarily reinstated the ban last fall while the case was pending.
In November, a lower court judge declared the law unconstitutional.
The law was first put into effect in the summer of last year when a federal appeals court lifted an imposition on the law following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Advocates for abortion rights filed suit in state courts.
Although oral arguments will be heard by the court late Tuesday morning or Tuesday afternoon, it may take up to six months for it to issue a ruling.
Georgia Life Alliance (GLA), a website that does an excellent job explaining how the heartbeat bill is much more than an abortion ban, released a statement asking for prayers for oral arguments.
The statement continues: “Even though Georgia’s Heartbeat Bill was upheld by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the abortion industry isn’t going down without a fight.”
Pro-life Georgians must remain engaged on the issue and continue to pray for the victory of the next front in this war on life. We ask you to pray for the hearing and before it.
- Pray for the Justices to hear the arguments with discernment
- Pray for the pro-life attorneys to articulate our law with clarity and wisdom
- Pray for the pro-abortion attorneys with compassion that God will change their hearts and minds
Already, Georgians are seeing positive results from the Heartbeat Bill. The Heartbeat Bill is good news for Georgia. It saves babies by closing down abortion clinics and allows pregnant women to receive child support and tax exemptions.
We are grateful that you continue to pray for us.
“While I hesitate to declare victory before it has been delivered, however, I feel confident the State will accurately present the law and that justices will ultimately uphold and enforce the LIFE Act,” Elizabeth Edmonds (Leadership Director, Georgia Life Alliance) stated.
