Controversial Texas Law That Bans Abortion After 6 Weeks Takes Effect

With this, Texas is one of a dozen states in US banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

A Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks, and makes no exception for rape or incest, took effect on Wednesday after the Supreme Court did not act on an emergency request to block it. Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the bill in May, making Texas one of a dozen states banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected -- which is usually in the sixth week of pregnancy. The Supreme Court may still grant the request from rights groups and abortion providers to halt the so-called "heartbeat bill", which makes Texas one of the hardest states in the United States to get an abortion. The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights and other groups filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Monday asking it to stop the law from taking effect.