Since the 1973 landmark Roe v  Wade supreme court case, U.S. women have enjoyed the legal right to an abortion across the country.   States, however, have the right to regulate abortion services provided in their state, and in recent years, many state legislatures have moved to reduce access to abortion by placing restrictions and limitations on access and services.

For many who oppose a woman’s right to have an abortion, the ultimate goal is to overtun Roe v Wade by trying to get a restrictive abortion law case before the supreme court.  Now that Brett Kavanaugh, the newly appointed – and highly partisan – Supreme Court justice, is on the court, there is a good chance for this to happen.

See More SuzyKnew! articles on Brett Kavanaugh

The Governor of Georgia just signed a controversial, anti-abortion law called the  “fetal heartbeat law.”  This new law makes having abortion after 5- 6 weeks of pregnancy illegal.  Abortion rights supporters say this is an effective ban on abortion because few women realize they’re pregnant at 5 or 6 weeks, when a heartbeat can be detected.  Georgia is not the only state to pass such a ruling or a restrictive law.  In fact, there many states that have passed restrictive laws with the hope of getting a case before the Supreme Court.

Georgia’s “fetal heartbeat law” will be undoubtedly challenged in court and could be appealed up to the Supreme Court. In fact, there are already 12 laws that could be brought before the Supreme Court to challenge Roe v Wade.  (For more, see Politico) The types of cases include:

Who can get an abortion -1 case

Who can perform an abortion -5 cases

When a woman can get an abortion -1 case

Why a woman can choose an abortion – 2 cases

How a pregnancy is terminated – 3 cases

Ladies, it’s only a matter of time before we know whether Roe v Wade will continue to be the law of the land or overturned. If this happens, abortion rights as we currently know, and perhaps take for granted, will end. What have you done lately to protect women’s reproductive health?

Photo courtesies: The Bustle.com and Salon.com