Anti-abortion groups rally at state Capitol

Pryor urged to support 20-week ban

Representatives from anti-abortion groups spoke to a crowd of about 100 supporters at the Capitol rotunda Friday in Little Rock, urging Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor to support legislation that would ban the procedure after 20 weeks into a pregnancy.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would prohibit abortions, maintaining that a fetus can feel pain when it reaches 20 weeks of pregnancy. (Key abortion-rights activists deny fetuses that young can feel pain.) U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, Pryor's Republican opponent in the coming election, voted for the ban in 2013 when it came before the House.

Speakers at the rally Friday said Arkansas opposes abortion, calling it one of the most anti-abortion states in the country, and urged Pryor to join the five Republican members of the congressional delegation in supporting the legislation.

Josh Duggar, a reality TV star and the executive director of the Family Research Council Action committee, said Pryor would "feel the pain" from voters if he didn't support the legislation.

"If he's not willing to stand up and ... do what's right for Arkansans, they're going to have their voice in November," Duggar said to rounds of applause.

Duggar, who gained national attention as the oldest of the Duggar children on 19 Kids and Counting, is an Arkansan.

Mary Robbins, a spokesman for Pryor's campaign, said the senator hasn't endorsed the measure.

"Mark has said he could support a 20-week bill if it were crafted in a way that the courts would uphold as constitutional, but in light of recent court rulings, he's skeptical of that outcome," she said.

The Arkansas Legislature approved a similar 20-week abortion ban during the 2013 session, narrowly overriding a veto by Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe. A 12-week ban also passed the Legislature over Beebe's veto but is caught up in a court battle. Beebe has questioned the constitutionality of both laws.

Courts have struck down similar restrictions in other states. Some of those cases currently are sitting before federal appeals court judges.

Supporters of the various groups, including the Arkansas Family Council, the Women Speak Out political action committee and the Susan B. Anthony List, stood around the second floor Capitol rotunda holding anti-abortion signs. There were also a few people wearing T-shirts and campaign buttons supporting Cotton.

Robbins said Pryor has been clear on his position on abortion.

"Mark is personally opposed to abortion, but when a doctor says that continuing a pregnancy threatens a mother's life or a girl becomes pregnant as a result of a rape or incest, then her family, her doctor and pastor should provide guidance," she said.

Cotton has co-sponsored legislation that defined life as beginning at fertilization. At previous events, Cotton has backed the 20-week ban.

The Women Speak Out PAC has been targeting the Senate races in Arkansas, Louisiana and North Carolina, hoping to dislodge Democratic incumbents. The group has opened three field offices in Arkansas and has 100 volunteers and staff members contacting women across Arkansas who normally vote in presidential elections, but not midterms.

The group said it plans to spend $1 million to target those voters with messages criticizing Pryor's abortion stance.

Metro on 08/30/2014

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