FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2022
BOISE, IDAHO – Idaho Family Policy Center, a pro-family Christian ministry, celebrates Governor Brad Little’s decision to sign legislation that makes Idaho’s Heartbeat law enforceable.
The legislation (Senate Bill 1309), which was sponsored by Senator Patti Anne Lodge (R-Huston) and Representative Steven Harris (R-Meridian), passed the both chambers of the state legislature with veto-proof supermajorities. It will go into effect in thirty days.
Senate Bill 1309 makes a simple change to the existing Idaho Heartbeat Law by adding a Texas-style private enforcement mechanism that allows family members of unlawfully aborted preborn babies to sue the abortionist who committed the crime.
A sharp decline in the Texas abortion rate has been observed after a similar law in that state became effective and successfully withstood three challenges at the United States Supreme Court. For nearly seven months, Texas abortionists have voluntarily complied with the law and are no longer offering abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Supporters and opponents of the Idaho legislation both expect a similar outcome here if it becomes law.
Doctors can easily find a fetal heartbeat as early as six weeks of gestational age through commonly available medical technologies like ultrasonography. Importantly, obstetricians consider fetal heart activity to be an important milestone in prenatal development and routinely run tests to determine heartrate as an important indicator of a preborn child’s health. Medical literature reveals that 95 percent of preborn children with a fetal heartbeat detected early in the pregnancy will survive to term.
A statement from Blaine Conzatti, President of Idaho Family Policy Center:
In less than one month, preborn babies with beating hearts will receive equal protection of the law. For the first time in nearly fifty years, nearly all pre-born children in Idaho will have a chance to live their lives. The journey here has been long and hard, but everything has occurred in God’s good timing.
Today marks a historic day for the State of Idaho, which has now taken an unprecedented step in reversing five decades of bad policy. Sadly, tens of thousands of precious babies have been murdered since the Idaho legislature legalized abortion in 1973. But just one month from now, much of that needless slaughter will finally end. And I promise that we will keep fighting until every preborn child is valued and protected by law, no matter the stage of development.
The Idaho Heartbeat law is constitutionally, scientifically, and morally sound. A similar Texas law has successfully withstood several legal challenges in the federal courts, and we’re confident that our new law will survive any forthcoming legal challenge and begin saving pre-born babies.
Media Contact:
For questions or to schedule an interview with Blaine Conzatti, please contact (208) 260-5844 or [email protected].
