JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, May 24, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson signed into law Friday legislation making Missouri the latest state to ban abortion on nearly any preborn baby with a detectable heartbeat.
Introduced in January, the Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act requires abortionists to test for a fetal heartbeat prior to abortion, and if one can be found the abortion is forbidden except in cases of “medical emergency.” Women would not be punishable, but abortionists who don’t perform the test would face six-month suspensions of their medical licenses and a $1,000 fine. Physicians who do test and abort the child anyway would permanently lose their licenses and be barred from applying for a new one.
The Missouri House and Senate have previously voted overwhelmingly to pass fetal heartbeat protections, which would effectively ban abortion at around six to eight weeks. The law is slated to take effect starting August 28, though it’s widely expected to be enjoined by a lawsuit before then.