-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed into law House Bill 2443, named the “Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2011.” I don’t think the name was intended to be humorous. The law makes it a Class 3 felony to:

PERFORM AN ABORTION KNOWING THAT THE ABORTION IS SOUGHT BASED ON THE SEX OR RACE OF THE CHILD OR THE RACE OF A PARENT OF THAT CHILD.

Is this really a problem in Arizona? Maybe in other countries, but in this country? Show me the evidence.

The woman is given a free pass even though it’s her evil discriminatory motives that are the point of the law:

A WOMAN ON WHOM A SEX-SELECTION OR RACE-SELECTION ABORTION IS PERFORMED IS NOT SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL CIVIL LIABILITY FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION OR FOR A CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE THIS SECTION.

This law seems problematic from an enforcement point of view. How does the doctor, who could be subjected to this law, know the woman’s motivation?

While other states are fighting budget crises, it’s nice to see that Arizona has the time and treasure to pass legislation for a problem that doesn’t actually exist. It’s also nice to see Arizona leading the nation in the area of anti-discrimination.

H/T: VC, Susan Nielsen.