Thread by @GregLeding

Because we know Arkansas lawmakers are going to try to pass an SB8-like law—possibly as early as this October—I want to talk a bit about that new Texas law and what we can all do to keep it from becoming law here. (1/18)

As you probably know by now, Texas's SB8 is among the most extreme anti-abortion laws in the US, banning abortions after about six weeks—before many women even know they're pregnant. (2/18)

Maybe you find it tough to believe that many women don't know they're pregnant at six weeks—but it's true.

A woman who's six weeks pregnant is maybe just about two weeks past missing her period.

(3/18) nytimes.com/2019/05/18/par…

If you're interested: To calculate how far along a woman's pregnancy is, doctors use a formula that's 209 years old and based on a normal, 28-day menstrual cycle (which many women don't have).

The formula is named for Dr. Franz Naegele (1778-1851).

(4/18)hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellnes…

Anti-abortion activists use the six-week mark claiming it marks the start of a "fetal heartbeat"—but this is wrong and misleading.

It marks the start of electrical activity in cells, but there's no functioning heart or cardiovascular system.

(5/18) npr.org/sections/healt…

It's clear why anti-abortion activists use this wrong and misleading term to describe this electrical activity, but the reason they choose this point is that, again, many women don't even know they're pregnant at about six weeks (and activists can claim a "heartbeat"). (6/18)

How did SB8 become law (for now) if its six-week threshold falls so well before viability?

In short, it's because Texas lawmakers got crafty. Under SB8, Texas officials can't enforce it.

Instead, they turn over enforcement to the public.

(7/18)

Under SB8, anyone in the US can sue anyone they think helped (or intends to help) a woman get an abortion after six weeks in Texas. And if they can prove it in court, they get $10,000 *and* attorney's fees.

Defendants, if successful in defending themselves, get nothing.

(8/18)

There's an exception for the health of the mother but not for rape or incest. Asked about that, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that an exception isn't necessary since women have "six weeks" to figure out if they're pregnant.

We know that's not true (and irrelevant).

(9/18)

Let's stop here and say that abortion and contraception are essential health care.

SB8 creates a financial incentive for people to disrupt this health care and to harass doctors, family members, and others—just not the women seeking abortions.

(10/18)

SB8 bans abortions after six weeks, but it doesn't criminalize abortion. A woman who gets an abortion can't be sued—meaning a woman who self-induces an abortion can't be sued.

Only those who help (or are suspected of helping) can be sued.

A doctor, an Uber driver...

(11/18)

A more personal point now: My wife and I learned she was pregnant with our first child in the summer of 2014. We'd only just started trying, so we were thrilled. We kept it quiet until about 10 weeks.

And then about a week later, my wife had a miscarriage.

(12/18)

I won't talk about it other than to say those days are among our most painful.

And under a law like SB8, someone—anyone, *anywhere in the US*—could accuse my wife of having had an abortion and could sue me, our doctor, family, or someone else of having helped her.

(13/18)

Though we'd almost certainly win any such suit, defendants get nothing under SB8.

Meanwhile, those who bring such suits can win $10,000 *and* attorney's fees.

There's financial incentive to harass people during their darkest and most difficult days.

(14/18)

Think about that: Anti-abortion activists are actively organizing *right now* to harass people in Texas.

They're financially-motivated to do so.

Facts don't matter.

People will harass people during their darkest and most difficult days.

(15/18)

What can you do to keep an SB8-like law from becoming law here in Arkansas?

Call your state lawmakers: arkleg.state.ar.us

Urge your friends and family to do the same.

Stress the danger and recklessness of any such SB8-like law.

(16/18)

Because however you might feel about abortion, SB8 is dangerous, reckless, wrong, and un-serious—and it sets a nasty precedent (even if the US Supreme Court ultimately strikes it down). (17/18)

If someone is truly committed to reducing the number of abortions, they'll fully and publicly commit to ensuring easy and affordable access to birth control, and they'll support comprehensive sex education.

If not, they're not serious.

They just want to control women.

(18/18)