Arkansas House panel OKs ban on 'sex-selection' abortions

     (AP) – An Arkansas House panel has approved a bill that says

women cannot have an abortion solely to avoid having a boy or a girl.

     Supporters said the ban on so-called sex-selection abortions would have a

minimal effect because most abortions occur before the gender is known.

Opponents told the House Public Health Committee on Thursday that the

restriction would be unconstitutional.

     Seven states have similar bans. They are Arizona, Kansas, North Carolina,

North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

     Arkansas’ abortion restrictions have increased since Republicans took control

of the Legislature this decade. A ban on abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation is

in effect. A ban on a common second-trimester procedure takes effect later this

year.

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