Kansas Passes Late Abortion Ban

Politico reports:

Kansas will ban late-term abortions under a law signed Tuesday by Gov. Sam Brownback, likely the beginning of a wave of similar restrictions across the country.

Kansas's Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act bars abortions at 22 weeks gestation, generally 20 weeks after conception, except for those necessary to save the mother's life.

The legislation contends that “by 20 weeks after fertilization, the unborn child reacts to stimuli that would be recognized as painful if applied to an adult human.”

It comes on the heels of a similar law enacted in Nebraska last year that, while described as unconstitutional by many abortion rights groups, has not yet been challenged in court.

“This is an historic day,” Brownback said in a statement. “So many determined people have worked long and hard to get these bills passed and I am happy to sign them into law today. These bills are a reflection of the culture of life that is being embraced all across Kansas. They represent a mainstream, bipartisan and common sense approach to a divisive issue.”

Idaho and Oklahoma's state legislatures have passed similar legislation sitting on their governors' desks, according to the National Right for Life Committee, which drafted the model law. Legislators in Alabama, Minnesota and Oregon have introduced similar initiatives.

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