Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer yesterday signed a bill that makes abortions ābased on the sex or race of the fetusāĀ a felony in the state of Arizona.
According to The Arizona Republic, the new law specifically targets abortion providers. It allows the biological father of a fetus ā or the motherās parents, if the mother is underage ā to press charges against the person who administers the procedure if it was sought because of the fetusā race or sex.
House Bill 2443 was signed in the wake of billboard campaigns linking abortion rates to race. Anti-choice groups based in Texas have put up billboards targeting African-American womenĀ all over the country (including Jacksonville)Ā and most recently in Chicago.
State legislators in Arizona opposed to the new law said there is no statistical evidence that there is a problem in the state with race- or gender-based abortions.
If a doctor or provider is convicted, he or she could face up to seven years in prison and have his or her medical license revoked.
