sale of a child

Are there any laws prohibiting the sale of a child? I have not been able to find any.
Thanks,
PCH

It is strictly prohibited and a number of laws address that.

Your local police dept and the state's attorney can confirm that for you.

A local adoption agency can also talk to you about that issue.

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2005]
[Document affected by Public Law Section (1)(B)]
[CITE: 18USC2251A]


TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PART I--CRIMES

CHAPTER 110--SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ABUSE OF CHILDREN

Sec. 2251A. Selling or buying of children

(a) Any parent, legal guardian, or other person having custody or
control of a minor who sells or otherwise transfers custody or control
of such minor, or offers to sell or otherwise transfer custody of such
minor either--
(1) with knowledge that, as a consequence of the sale or
transfer, the minor will be portrayed in a visual depiction engaging
in, or assisting another person to engage in, sexually explicit
conduct; or
(2) with intent to promote either--
(A) the engaging in of sexually explicit conduct by such
minor for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such
conduct; or
(B) the rendering of assistance by the minor to any other
person to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of
producing any visual depiction of such conduct;

shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 30 years or for life
and by a fine under this title, if any of the circumstances described in
subsection (c) of this section exist.
(b) Whoever purchases or otherwise obtains custody or control of a
minor, or offers to purchase or otherwise obtain custody or control of a
minor either--
(1) with knowledge that, as a consequence of the purchase or
obtaining of custody, the minor will be portrayed in a visual
depiction engaging in, or assisting another person to engage in,
sexually explicit conduct; or
(2) with intent to promote either--
(A) the engaging in of sexually explicit conduct by such
minor for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such
conduct; or
(B) the rendering of assistance by the minor to any other
person to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of
producing any visual depiction of such conduct;

shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 30 years or for life
and by a fine under this title, if any of the circumstances described in
subsection (c) of this section exist.
(c) The circumstances referred to in subsections (a) and (b) are
that--
(1) in the course of the conduct described in such subsections
the minor or the actor traveled in or was transported in interstate
or foreign commerce;
(2) any offer described in such subsections was communicated or
transported in interstate or foreign commerce by any means including
by computer or mail; or
(3) the conduct described in such subsections took place in any
territory or possession of the United States.

(Added Pub. L. 100-690, title VII, Sec. 7512(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102
Stat. 4486; amended Pub. L. 108-21, title I, Sec. 103(b)(1)(B), Apr. 30,
2003, 117 Stat. 653.)


Amendments

2003--Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 108-21 substituted ``30 years'' for
``20 years'' in concluding provisions.