Arkansas House Approves Bill Banning Abortions After 12 Weeks

Exceptions for rape, incest and medical safety

The Arkansas House of Representatives approved an amended version of SB 134 yesterday, the "Heartbeat Protection Act" which would ban all abortions at 12 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and to save the woman's life — you know, the rare occasions upon which anti-choice politicians concede that the heartbeat of a living, breathing women might be worth listening to, too.

The bill, which would be the earliest and most extreme abortion ban in the country, will head to Governor Mike Beebe's desk if the Senate approves the House's version, as is expected.