In just a few days, it will be the 10 year anniversary of the introduction of the first “heartbeat” abortion ban introduction. Just 10 years ago, that bill was considered so very fringe and unconstitutional that it was actually blocked by Republicans in the Ohio statehouse.

10 years ago, no one wanted to even touch a ban that extreme (potentially as early as a week or two after a missed period). National Right to Life helped kill it. It took Janet Porter years to even get it a full vote. Then it got repeatedly vetoed by the governor.

Now, it’s the go to bill for any state that wants to make sure that abortion is completely banned. It’s the failsafe for if SCOTUS decides states can restrict however they want as long as they don’t make it *completely* illegal.

just a little early morning musing on how fast the landscape changes.

btw if you want an extensive history of the heartbeat bill in Ohio, here’s that chapter.
https://medium.com/@robinmarty/chapter-2-ohio-from-balloons-to-bears-heartbeat-ban-causes-heartburn-in-anti-abortion-activists-d55baedaed6f
If you want the updated version, get a copy of @Hegemommy and my book “End of Roe v. Wade” https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781632460851