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Fetus Protection Act

Michael Lee

Preamble

Traditionally, life is defined by the heartbeat, and when the beat stops life does too. But the heart is as essential as most other organs. If one loses their kidneys, they pass. If one loses their diaphragm they can no longer breathe. Current abortion laws state that abortions may not occur when the heartbeat of the fetus is detected, which is only 6 weeks after gestation. Heartbeat doesn’t necessarily mean life, it does provide us with life but so do other organs. Brain waves are a more logical definition of life, because when we pass it’s not our heartbeat that passes on, it is the spirit within our brain’s that do. Brain waves are first detected in the fetus around week 13, but don’t exhibit full use until week 25. By week 20 the pain receptors in the fetus have formed, therefore by week 20 the fetus can feel the pain of an abortion. Abortions should be banned after the 20 week mark of a fetus.

Body

Section 1

Current state laws on abortion bans range from 6 weeks after last menstrual cycle to 24 weeks after last menstrual cycle. Banning abortion after 6 weeks of gestation is equally as extreme as having an abortion at 24 weeks of gestation. At 6 weeks a woman isn’t given enough time to figure out she is pregnant, or figure out what she wants. But at 24 weeks after gestation a child is one week away from reaching full brain activity, which occurs at 25 weeks. Not only is the child close to having a fully functioning brain, but the child is also capable of feeling pain.

Section 2

By the time unborn children are 20 weeks old, they are capable of feeling pain. The Fetus Protection Act provides unborn children 20 weeks and older shelter from the pain of an abortion. Abortions after 20 weeks of gestation are not permitted except in cases of incest against a minor, rape, or if the birth of the child endagers the life of the mother.

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The penalty for abortions after this point is a fine of 20% of the individuals income after 14 days and 6 months of therapeutic counseling.

Enactment Clause

The Fetus Protection Act will go into effect on January 14th of 2022

Conclusion

Abortions after 20 weeks of gestation should be outlawed, because by 20 weeks the child can feel pain. Outlawing abortions after 20 weeks would provide a middle ground between the two main stances on abortion, pro-life and pro-choice.

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