The US Supreme Court abolished the historic Roe v. Wade with whom in 1973 the same court had legalized abortion in the USA. Now, therefore, individual states will be free to apply their laws on the matter. “The Constitution does not confer the right to abortion”, reads the sentence. The decision was made by a divided court, with 6 votes in favor and 3 against.
The decision was made in the “Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” case, in which the judges upheld the Mississippi law prohibiting termination of pregnancy after 15 weeks. The only remaining clinic in the state to offer an abortion had been appealed. “Abortion presents a profound moral issue. The constitution does not prohibit citizens of any state from regulating or prohibiting abortion,” the judges write. A draft leaked in recent weeks (drafted by Judge Samuel Alito, dating back to February and later confirmed as authentic by the court) had indicated that the majority of the ‘sages’ were in favor of overturning Roe v Wade, sparking widespread controversy and protests in the US. Out of 50 states, 26 (including Texas and Oklahoma) have more restrictive laws on the matter. Nine have abortion limits that precede the ‘Roe v. Wade ‘, and which have not yet been enforced but may now become effective, while 13 have so-called’ dormant bans’ which should go into effect immediately.
THE CONSEQUENCES – The abortion ban is expected to take effect in 13 US states in the next 30 days. These are republican states that have passed stringent abortion laws linking them to the awaited decision of the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade. Now that the decision has come and the 1973 ruling overturned, the 13 states can ban abortion in 30 days except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger.
ANSA agency
Dismissed the restrictions on the carrying of firearms in New York which included a license to carry a firearm in public. The Supreme Court has sided in support of the Second Amendment which protects the rights of individuals to carry a weapon with them outside the home in self-defense (ANSA)
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THE JUDGES AGAINST – “Sadly”, many women “have lost fundamental constitutional protection. We disagree,” say liberal judges Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer. The three judges voted against the decision to overturn the historic ruling.
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The former president against the Supreme Court on abortion (ANSA)
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THE PROTESTS IN THE SQUARE – Protests broke out outside the US Supreme Court, minutes after top judges abolished the right to abortion. Protesters are increasing with each passing minute, there is also a contiguous of anti-abortionists who have embraced and rejoiced at the news that the Supreme Court overturned the historic ‘Roe v. Wade ‘.
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ANSA agency
Protests erupted outside the US Supreme Court, minutes after top judges abolished the right to abortion after 50 years. (HANDLE)
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POLITICAL REACTIONS – A “cruel” and “scandalous” decision, says the speaker of the House in the US, the Democrat Nancy Pelosi. In the November elections, she adds, women’s rights are at stake. Abortion has “been a right for 50 years”: the Supreme Court’s decision is an “insult” to women, adds Pelosi, ensuring that Democrats will continue to fight for women and for rights. “Life has won,” says the former American president Mike Pence. Barack Obama criticizes the Supreme Court, accusing it of having “attacked the fundamental freedoms of millions of Americans”. A “courageous” and “correct decision. It is a historic victory for the constitution and society”, argues the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Mitch McConnell. “I applaud this historic sentence that saves lives”, tweets the leader of the Republicans in the House, Kevin McCarthy.
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He is risking his life in a hospital due to local legislation (ANSA)
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