After Judge’s Ruling, Texas Abortion Ban Still in Effect and Still Saving Babies From Abortion

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 4, 2021   |   9:50AM   |   Austin, Texas

Planned Parenthood is trying another way to stop the new Texas heartbeat law, bu even after a judge issued the restraining order it requested, the Texas abortion ban is still in place and will still save babies from abortion.

The pro-life law went into effect Wednesday, prohibiting abortions once an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, about six weeks of pregnancy. Unique from other heartbeat laws, it includes a private enforcement mechanism that allows people to file lawsuits against abortionists who violate the law.

Late Thursday, three of Planned Parenthood’s Texas affiliates asked a judge to issue a restraining order against Texas Right to Life to stop the pro-life organization from suing abortionists who violate the law. Late last night, a Democrat judge issued the order.

Judge Maya Guerra Gamble’s (D) ruling does not invalidate the new pro-life law but rather halts Texas Right to Life and its associates from suing abortion practitioners and workers at Planned Parenthood abortion centers under the heartbeat law. Judge Gamble’s temporary restraining order is due to expire in two weeks, but her Friday order also announced a September 13 hearing on the ability of Texas Right to Life to enforce the law.

Kimberlyn Schwartz, Director of Media and Communication for Texas Right to Life, explained to LifeNews.com what happened and how the judge’s order does not stop the Texas abortion ban from saving babies.

“A Travis County judge issued a temporary restraining order requested by Planned Parenthood affiliates against Texas Right to Life, our Legislative Director John Seago, and 100 unnamed individuals,” Schwartz explained.

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She continued: “Many media outlets falsely claim that the order blocks all citizens from enforcing the Texas Heartbeat Act. In truth, the order only applies to the defendants (Texas Right to Life, John Seago, and the anonymous individuals) and the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs. Other citizens are legally authorized to sue the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs, and Texas Right to Life is legally authorized to sue other abortionists who violate the law. This does not stop the Texas Heartbeat Act.”

“Planned Parenthood can sue us, but they can’t sue every Texan. As long as they commit abortions, they are liable under the life-saving Texas Heartbeat Act,” Schwartz added.

Texas Right to Life Vice President Elizabeth Graham says the pro-life group remains committed to doing everything possible to save as many babies as they can under the heartbeat law.

“This lawsuit will not stop the work of Texas Right to Life. Estimates are that approximately 150 babies per day are being saved because of Texas Right to Life’s leadership on the Texas Heartbeat Act. Planned Parenthood can keep suing us, but Texas Right to Life will never back down from protecting pregnant women and preborn children from abortion,” she told LifeNews. “We will continue our diligent efforts to ensure the abortion industry fully follows the life-saving provisions of the Texas Heartbeat Act.”

Plaintiffs include Planned Parenthood South Texas Surgical Center, Planned Parenthood Greater Texas Surgical Health Services, Planned Parenthood Center for Choice, and abortionist Bhavik Kumar.

Planned Parenthood, a billion-dollar abortion chain that does about 40 percent of all abortions in the U.S., slammed the private enforcement as “malicious,” claiming it would “cause imminent, irreparable injury” to its abortionists and other staff.

“Unfortunately for people who discover they are pregnant and cardiac activity exists, the options that they have now under this law are limited,” Melaney Linton, CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, told Houston Matters. “We have to either help them navigate away to get out of state and get to another provider or they will have to contemplate continuing the pregnancy.”

The Texas law is already saving hundreds of babies from abortion, as some abortion centers have stopped abortions completely or stopped doing 80-90% of them..

Linton said they still are doing abortions up to six weeks of pregnancy. However, another affiliate, Planned Parenthood South Texas, stopped doing abortions completely when the law took effect.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused another request from Planned Parenthood and other abortion groups to temporarily block enforcement of the law. As a result, Texas became the first state to be allowed to enforce a heartbeat law.

The law has the potential to save tens of thousands of babies from abortion. In 2020, about 54,000 unborn babies were aborted in Texas, and about 85 percent happened after six weeks of pregnancy, according to state health statistics. That means more than 100 unborn babies with beating hearts may be spared from abortion every single day in Texas.

Whether the Texas law will remain in effect or ultimately be upheld as constitutional in court remains uncertain, but pro-life leaders are hopeful now that the Supreme Court has a conservative majority.

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court took away the states’ ability to protect unborn babies from abortion under Roe v. Wade, and instead forced states to legalize abortion on demand. Roe made the United States one of only seven countries in the world that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks. The court is scheduled to hear a Mississippi case in the fall that challenges this precedent.

Meanwhile, pro-life advocates are reaching out to pregnant women across Texas with compassion and understanding, offering resources and emotional support to help them and their babies. Earlier this year, state lawmakers increased support for pregnant and parenting mothers and babiesensuring that they have resources to choose life for their babies.

Women may call or text 1-800-712-4357 or chat online with OptionLine, a 24-hour bilingual hotline run by Heartbeat International that has helped connect millions of women to pregnancy and parenting resources.

Polls show Americans support heartbeat lawsAn April poll by the University of Texas-Austin found that 49 percent of Texans support making abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy, while 41 percent oppose it. In 2019, a national Hill-HarrisX survey also found that 55 percent of voters said they do not think laws banning abortions after six weeks – when an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable – are too restrictive.