Atlanta

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand visits Georgia to speak out against 'heartbeat bill'

ATLANTA — A Democratic presidential candidate joined some Georgia lawmakers at the state Capitol Thursday to protest the state’s new abortion bill. Sen. Kirsten Gillebrand spoke out about the state's "heartbeat bill," which has drawn national attention.

Channel 2 political reporter Richard Elliot was at the Capitol as Gov. Brian Kemp signed the new bill into law nine days ago.

Critics believe the bill, similar one passed in other state across the country, will become a cornerstone of the political campaigns for those hoping to unseat President Donald Trump.

Critics also issued a clear challenge Thursday to voters in Georgia, saying that they plan to go after those who voted for the heartbeat bill.

“I’m here in Georgia to shine a light on a very discriminatory law,” Gillibrand said on the steps inside the Capitol building rotunda, surrounded by Georgia lawmakers, activists and health care providers.

“The fact that women are being devalued and demeaned and there’s an all-out assault and attack by the Republican Party across this nation to undermine women’s basic reproductive rights,” Gillibrand said.

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Upon signing the bill, Kemp said that he felt it was important to fight for the lives of unborn children even in the face of multiple lawsuits.

“I realize some may challenge it in the court of law, but our job is to do what is right, not what is easy,” Kemp said.

The law bans abortions at the first sign of a fetal heartbeat, approximately six weeks into a pregnancy.

Acworth lawmaker Ed Setzler wrote the bill and admitted, it could lay a foundation to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“I don't want to predict what the courts will do, but I can tell you that I believe if it does make it to the Supreme Court, this bill lays the legal foundation that we would want,” Setzler said.

State Sen. Nikema Williams promised that they will use this bill as ammunition against any lawmaker who voted for it.

“We’re going to make sure that we are coming for every one of the seats of the people who voted this into law and the governor who signed this into law. We are watching every step that they make,” Williams said.

Elliot contacted the governor’s office Thursday about this story, but they did not want to comment.

The law will go into effect in January. The ACLU told Elliot that it plans to file a lawsuit against the law by the end of August.