Tennessee now has one of the longest abortion waiting periods in America
On Monday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) signed a bill that will require Tennessee women to wait 48 hours before obtaining an abortion. While Tennessee is the 27th state to impose such measures, only four other states have longer abortion waiting periods.
Brain Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, said in a statement that women "deserve relevant details and adequate time to make fully informed decisions" before having an abortion. Abortion-rights advocates, meanwhile, say that waiting periods create unnecessary burdens for women, especially if they don't live near abortion clinics.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
