Women in Texas who seek abortions after six weeks during their pregnancy could be turned in for a $10,000 reward from September 1. This comes after Texas passed the Heartbeat Act through the state legislature in May - a decision that sparked mass outrage across the country. The act allows private citizens living to sue private medical companies for granting abortions after a baby's heartbeat is detected, per <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/19/politics/texas-abortion-heartbeat-ban/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. Per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-abortion-texas/abortion-rights-advocates-sue-texas-over-6-week-abortion-ban-idUSL1N2OP1MB">Reuters</a>, the Texas measure means citizens can sue anyone who "knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets" an abortion that violates provisions of the law. Pro-Choice group Women's March has also highlighted that people could also sue surgery providers, nurses, friends, and others who facilitate an abortion. Reuters adds that, as per the new law, citizens who win such lawsuits would be entitled to a minimum of $10,000. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/1414554679174905862]]  This has now sparked a wider discussion and major ethical questions, with many rallying for the law to be changed before it takes effect on September 1, with the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, women’s health provider Planned Parenthood and others filing a lawsuit to block the law. Back in May, Governor Greg Abbott signed a law that bans abortions after six weeks, albeit with a few exceptions. In the case of a medical emergency, a woman may have an abortion, but the law still stands in cases of pregnancy due to rape or incest. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1414556649004703748]]  [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1414560485689733120]]  <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/12/republicans-now-stand-lawlessness-disorder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Post</a> writer Jennifer Rubi <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/1414554679174905862" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>: "Consider the potential for harassment, spying, extortion and other vengeful behavior directed toward women. "The law depends on what others know about her reproductive health and are willing to tell the authorities to grab a $10,000 bounty." Meanwhile, MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid slammed the law, <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1414556649004703748" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeting</a>: "So now Texas Republicans are putting bounties on pregnant women. I almost hate to ask what this benighted party will think of next." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/womensmarch/status/1413907371328303105]]  Elsewhere, professor Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/12/republicans-now-stand-lawlessness-disorder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Post</a> that the law raised numerous issues: It's a deeply cynical effort to both (1) chill conduct that ought to be constitutionally protected; and (2) provide cover for judges to find creative ways to dodge the merits of the constitutional challenge. Fortune reports that six-week bans in other states have all eventually been found unconstitutional as they've passed through the legal system. Washington Post writer Jennifer Rubi added: "If they [Republicans] cannot win elections and defend their policy objectives, Republicans appear willing to burn down democratic elections and 'equal justice under the law'." <h6>Featured image credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Bob Daemmrich Photography / Alamy</h6>

Texas looking to offer $10,000 reward to people who turn in women seeking abortions

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