ABORTION - The New Arena for the Debate Over Abortion

IMO: T his is just more of unconstitutional imposition of a religious based belief, by using the law of the land, on ALL citizens of the U.S., which opposite allowing the free practice of religion by individuals.  Not to mention the effect on women's right to decide what to do with her own body.

"States Become Central Battleground in Fight Over Access to Abortion Services" PBS Newshour 4/30/2013

Excerpt

JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour):  The central battleground in the debate over abortion rights has shifted in recent years to the states.  In just the past two months, five states, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, North Dakota and Virginia, approved more stringent restrictions in abortion.

In North Dakota, for example, the new law prohibits abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be soon as soon as six weeks.

REP. BETTE GRANDE, R-N.D.:  North Dakota believes in the life of the unborn child, believes that the heartbeat is life.

JEFFREY BROWN:  Such laws are aimed at undermining the standards set out in the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in Roe vs. Wade.  That decision gave women the right to an abortion until the fetus is viable outside the womb, about 24 weeks into pregnancy.

Speaking last Friday at a Planned Parenthood conference, President Obama took aim at measures designed to limit abortion rights.  He told the crowd such policies would -- quote -- "roll back basic rights" when it comes to women's health.