Abortion Bans in Mississippi, Florida Allowed to Take Effect Amid Efforts to Block Them

Bans on abortions in Mississippi and Florida are taking effect this week in spite of efforts in the courts seeking to block the laws.

The news comes amid continuing legal battles in multiple U.S. states over abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court decision on June 24 that overturned Roe v. Wade and sent regulation of the procedure back to the states.

The 1973 landmark Roe decision had largely enabled abortions to be carried out for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy across the country for almost five decades.

In Mississippi, the state’s legislature had in 2007 passed a trigger law banning all abortions—except in cases where it is deemed necessary to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape that has been reported to law enforcement. The trigger provision means it would be contingent on the overturning of Roe.