‘America Is Trending Pro-Life’: Voters Support Texas Heartbeat Law, 46-43 percent, Poll Shows

A plurality of likely voters supports a new Texas that prohibits abortion once a heartbeat is detected, according to a new national survey.

The Rasmussen Reports poll found that 46 percent of U.S. likely voters support the law, while 43 percent oppose it and 11 percent are undecided.

The survey of 1,000 likely voters asked, “The Supreme Court has refused to block a new Texas law that effectively prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Do you support or oppose the Texas law?” It was conducted between Sept. 5-6.

The law, which went into effect on Sept. 1, requires abortion doctors to check for a fetal heartbeat and prohibits an abortion if one is detected. A heartbeat is typically detected around the sixth week of pregnancy.

Lila Rose, president of the pro-life group Live Action, touted the poll’s results.

“Despite the insane media bias & lies, more Americans support banning abortion after the baby’s heartbeat can be detected than support it,” Rose tweeted. “America is trending pro-life!”

The law is unique in that it allows citizens to sue those who violate it. The text of the law says “any person” other than “an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity” may “bring a civil action against any person who … performs or induces an abortion in violation” of the law. It also allows lawsuits against anyone who “aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion.”

Those who sue and win could be awarded at least $10,000 for each illegal abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the law, although the majority also said abortion clinics had “raised serious questions regarding the constitutionality” of the law.

Abortion clinics, the court said, had not demonstrated that the high court could legally get involved.

“Federal courts enjoy the power to enjoin individuals tasked with enforcing laws, not the laws themselves,” the majority opinion said.

Abortion clinics say the law impacts about 85 percent of abortions in the state. 

A Planned Parenthood spokesperson on Tuesday said the organization will keep fighting the law in the courts.

“Texans are being denied their constitutional right to abortion after six weeks of pregnancy,” said Jacqueline Ayers of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

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