Rossville, Ga abortion ban

A Georgia State University law professor says abortion restrictions imposed this week by a small community in western Georgia could face some legal challenges.

The city council in Rossville passed an ordinance to ban abortion clinics in the city.

Georgia State University Professor Neil Kinkopf says states and municipalities can regulate access to an abortion, but they cannot prohibit them.

"If those regulations impose an undue burden on women's access to abortions then it's unconstitutional,” said Kinkopf. “And this law goes way beyond an undue burden. It outright bans them."

Rossville also prohibits advertisements for abortions, which Kinkopf notes is a violation of free speech.

Kinkopf appeared on GPB’s On Second Thought on Thursday to discuss the issue.

Rossville, Ga does not have any abortion clinics. According to the ordinance, women can terminate their pregnancies within the city if the procedure takes place at a hospital, is performed by a licensed physician that deems it is necessary to save the woman’s life and a doctor attests that the baby could not survive outside of the womb.

Rossville's mayor told the Chattanooga's Times Free Press that his city wants to keep abortion clinics out because they could bring "drama" to the community.

Contributors: Ellen Reinhardt, Times Free Press

Tags: Rossville, GA, georgia town bans abortions, avoiding drama, abortions