Grand Canyon Times

On March 30, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed an abortion bill into law that would prohibit doctors from performing an abortion after 15 weeks except in cases of medical emergencies. 

According to 3TV/CBS 5 News, doctors that perform an abortion past the 15 weeks without a medical emergency could face Class 6 felony charges and risk having their license suspended. 

The new bill does not have any exemptions for cases of rape or incest and does not impose any punishment for women who have an abortion after 15 weeks.

“In Arizona, we know there is immeasurable value in every life – including preborn life,” Ducey wrote in a letter, according to 3TV/CBS 5 News. “I believe it is each state’s responsibility to protect them.”

Cathi Herrod, President of the Center for Arizona Policy spoke in support of the bill and said, "I would say in very rare instances when a woman is a victim of rape or incest, and she becomes pregnant that most, if not all, women will have made a decision on whether or not to have an abortion before 15 weeks. So I don’t really see the 15-week limit having an impact in that situation,” according to 3TV/CBS 5 News.

Arizona Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs disagreed and said, "Today marks a giant step backward in the fight for equality for women across Arizona and across the country. With Governor Ducey’s signature, our elected leaders have chosen to side with the extremists in their party and turn their backs on the overwhelming majority of Arizonans who support the constitutional right to choose,” according to 3TV/CBS 5 News.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona (ACLU) policy director Darrell Hill posted a statement on Twitter "A vast majority of Arizonans believe in the right to abortion and want to ensure trans youth have every opportunity to thrive. The legislators who supported these bills know that their transphobic, anti-choice agenda is misaligned with the will of their constituents. Simultaneously passing voting restrictions is an easy solution to carry on without answering to the people they are supposed to represent. We stand with our community to hold the elected officials behind these unconstitutional attacks accountable – including Governor Ducey.”

3TV/CBS 5 News reports that Arizona has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. With the new bill in place, abortion will become automatically illegal if the high court ever overturns Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court which protects a woman's ability to choose to have an abortion.

The new bill could go into effect as early as July.