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 As one of the most restrictive abortion bans, the so-called "fetal
heartbeat" law bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected,
often at six weeks and before a woman realizes she is pregnant.
Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United States,
with opponents citing religious belief to declare it immoral, and
proponents declaring it a women's health and privacy issue, among
other arguments.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the constitution protected
a pregnant women's right to an abortion.
Various states have passed restrictions on abortions including those
similar to South Carolina and most are still tied up in the courts.
A law passed in Iowa in 2018 was overturned by a state judge in
2019.
"It is undisputed that such cardiac activity is detectable well in
advance of the fetus becoming viable," District Court Judge Michael
Huppert wrote in his decision.
A fetus that is viable outside the womb, usually at 24 weeks, is
widely considered the threshold in the United States to prohibit
abortion.
McMaster, a Republican, said at a signing ceremony that is has been
his priority to sign an abortion ban into law. The South Carolina
law does allow abortions under some circumstances including rape,
incest or if the mother's life is in danger.
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 McMaster said just before he
signed the law, "There's a lot of happy hearts
beating across South Carolina right now."
And in a nod to an expected legal fight,
McMaster told people at the signing: "Our
battles are not yet over, but I believe the dawn
of victory is upon us."
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic filed a
lawsuit in federal court shortly afterwards on
the grounds the ban is unconstitutional, citing
previous successful challenges to similar laws
in other states, the group said in a statement.
"This ban blatantly defies nearly 50 years of
Supreme Court precedent protecting a person's
right to end a pregnancy," Nancy Northup,
president of the Center of Reproductive Rights
said in a statement.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by
Grant McCool)
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