Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill into law Tuesday that would ban nearly all abortions in the state. Senate Bill 6 makes no exceptions for rape or incest, and only lists a few medical exceptions.
While abortion rights advocates are promising a legal fight, legislative backers have said they hope the case will eventually be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court and that the addition of more conservative justices in recent years will lead to an overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
"I will sign SB6 because of overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held pro-life convictions. SB6 is in contradiction of binding precedents of the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is the intent of the legislation to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law," Hutchinson said in a statement. "I would have preferred the legislation to include the exceptions for rape and incest, which has been my consistent view, and such exceptions would increase the chances for a review by the U.S. Supreme Court."
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-governor-signs-near-total-abortion-ban-law
Speaking to reporters in his office last Wednesday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson expressed reservations about the near-total abortion ban because it didn't make exceptions for rape or incest. On Tuesday, he signed the legislation into law.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS