Texas: 6-Week Abortion Ban Takes Effect

A Texas ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy took effect early Wednesday morning.

This move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court did not act on an emergency request by abortion rights groups to block the law enabling the ban.

On their part, abortion-rights groups say 85%-90% of abortions in Texas are obtained after six weeks of pregnancy, meaning the law would most likely force many clinics to close.

They noted that such ban had never been permitted in any state since the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, in 1973.

In July, Planned Parenthood and other women's health providers, doctors, and clergy members challenged the law in federal court in Austin, claiming it violated the constitutional right to an abortion.

The law, signed on May 19, enables private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone who "aids or abets" an abortion after six weeks. Citizens who win such lawsuits would be entitled to at least $10,000.

On the other hand, Texas officials told the justices to reject the abortion providers' request, saying that the law "may never be enforced against them by anyone."

Texas is among of dozen mostly Republican-led states that have enacted "heartbeat" abortion bans, which outlaw the procedure once the rhythmic contracting of fetal cardiac tissue can be detected, often at six weeks - sometimes before a woman realizes she is pregnant.