Texas Abortion Ban Turns Citizens Into 'Bounty Hunters' - Do You Support the Provision?

What’s the story?

• The Texas law banning abortions after six weeks includes a unique provision for enforcement: private citizens can sue clinics, doctors, nurses, and even people who drive a woman to get an abortion for at least $10,000. 
• This financial incentive was singled out by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissent after SCOTUS declined the block the controversial law:

Texas lawmakers have "deputized the state's citizens as bounty hunters, offering them cash prizes for civilly prosecuting their neighbors' medical procedures."

• Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) states that residents “may bring a civil action against any person who performs or induces an abortion in violation” after six weeks of pregnancy or anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion. This includes giving someone a ride to the clinic or paying for the procedure (reimbursement from insurance is also prohibited). 
• Elizabeth Sepper, a professor specializing in health law and religious liberty at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Law told MarketWatch:

“The defendant — whether a provider, funder, clergyperson, friend or family member — pays the damages which are set at a minimum of $10,000. If there are several defendants, they each pay $10,000 in damages

• S.B.8 makes no exception for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.

How are Bounty Hunters reporting violators?

r/TXBountyHunters

• Reddit recently removed "r/TXBountyHunters," a forum "for sharing tips on identifying, reporting, and collecting bounty on those breaking Texas law TX SB8."

ProLifeWhistleBlower.com

• Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, created a website where people can leave information anonymously about "aiding or abetting a post-heartbeat abortion."
• TikTok users trolled the site with fake tips in an attempt to crash it.
• The site has been dropped by their host provider, GoDaddy, and is currently offline, but a representative for Texas Right to Life told CBS news:

“ProLifeWhistleblower.com will be back up soon to continue collecting anonymous tips."

-Minna Lee and Josh Herman

(Image: Josh Herman / Site capture from prolifewhistleblower.com)