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March 18, 2013

North Dakota Lawmakers Approve 6-Week Abortion Ban 
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North Dakota lawmakers have passed what could become the strictest
anti-abortion law in the country, banning abortion as early as six weeks
into pregnancy, or possibly even earlier, as soon as an embryonic
heartbeat can be detected by a transvaginal ultrasound. The bill would
ban abortion in the earliest stages of pregnancy at a time when many
women have not even realized they are pregnant. The vote in North Dakota
comes roughly a week after Arkansas banned abortion at 12 weeks of
pregnancy. In addition to the six-week ban, North Dakota lawmakers
passed a measure that would make it the first state to ban abortions
sought because the fetus has a genetic abnormality. Both bills would
need the signature of Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple.

 

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