Arizona Passes Bill Banning Late-Term Abortions

April 12, 2012

Arizona lawmakers have passed a bill banning most late-term abortions and putting in place new requirements that could prevent more abortions, CBN News reports. A month after state Senate leaders approved the legislation, the Arizona House yesterday voted 37-22 to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of medical emergency, and to require the state to maintain a website depicting fetuses at different stages of development and presenting women with alternatives to abortion. State Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Glendale) said her vote was based on the answer to one question: "Is the baby inside a woman's body a human?" she said. "My answer, I believe, is yes. It is unacceptable to end the life of a human." Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is expected to sign the bill into law; it would go into effect this summer, making Arizona the seventh state to ban abortion after 20 weeks.