State Reports Show Abortion Effectively Stopped in Arkansas in June of 2022

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 2, 2023

Little Rock, Ark. – On Thursday the Arkansas Department of Health released its annual abortion reports. The documents reveal 1,621 abortions were performed in Arkansas during 2022. The reports note that on  June 24, 2022, abortion became prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “These reports are great news. They show that Arkansas’ pro-life laws are protecting women and saving unborn children. Arkansas has successfully prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother. That is something to celebrate.”

Cox pointed out that abortion was legal in Arkansas until June 24th of last year. “The numbers released by the Arkansas Department of Health prove the effectiveness of Arkansas’ ban on abortions. The Health Department statistics seem to indicate that abortions virtually ended after Arkansas’ law against abortion went into effect.”

Cox said reversing Roe v. Wade last June saved approximately 1,500 unborn children in Arkansas. “In the past, Arkansas has averaged around 3,200 abortions per year. In 2022, there were 1,621 abortions. All in all, our team estimates 1,500 unborn children were saved from abortion after June 24 of last year.”

Cox said the reports also show Arkansas’ informed-consent laws helped women choose options besides abortion. “Arkansas has some of the best informed-consent laws in America. These laws require  abortionists to give women all the facts about abortion up front, including abortion’s risks, consequences, and alternatives. They also have to give women plenty of time to consider all options before making a final decision. These reports indicate approximately 400 women chose not to have abortions last year after receiving this information.”

Cox said the reports underscore why it is so important that the Arkansas Legislature voted to appropriate one million dollars this year to help women with unplanned pregnancies. “Most of the abortions  performed last year were on single moms. It isn’t enough simply to outlaw abortion. If we truly want to end abortion, we have to help women with unplanned pregnancies. Arkansas is home to more than 60 organizations that assist pregnant women — including some 45 pregnancy resource centers. The money that the State of Arkansas appropriated this year will make it possible for women to receive help from these good organizations.”

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Lawmakers in Other States Look to Enshrine Abortion, LGBT Measures in State Constitutions

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In the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision that reversed Roe v. Wade, liberal groups around the country have turned their attention toward state policies.

A proposed constitutional amendment filed in Arkansas this year would have enshrined a right to abortion in the state’s constitution. Lawmakers did not pass that amendment, and it expired when legislators officially adjourned the 2023 session on May 1.

In Oregon, lawmakers are weighing the possibility of writing abortion into the constitution along with special LGTB provisions.

We expect these types of initiatives to escalate in the coming months.

Below is a news report from Oregon highlighting these pro-abortion and pro-LGBT efforts.

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AR Pro-Abortion Group Encourages Supporters to “Smash Away” Feelings, Fund Abortion at Weekend Event

Abortion

A pro-abortion group is inviting its supporters to come “smash away your feelings” and “fund abortion” at an event in Little Rock later this month.

In a promotional email obtained by Family Council, Arkansas Abortion Support Network writes,

Do you need to get some aggression out? Do you like funding abortion? Have we got a deal for you!

Join us for Smash-A-Thon on Saturday, May 27th! We’ll have dishes, glasses, bottles, maybe some electronics, and a CAR that you can smash, break, and destroy. We’ll provide all smashing implements and safety gear. You bring your rage, some enthusiasm for smashing, and a desire to fund abortion.

A registration web page for the event advertises, “Fund Abortion. Build Power. Smash the Patriarchy.”

The event is part of the National Network of Abortion Funds’ annual Fund-A-Thon, and will take place on Office Park Drive in Little Rock — across the street from what used to be a surgical abortion facility. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, the abortion facility closed, and Arkansas Abortion Support Network began utilizing the location.

Arkansas Abortion Support Network refers women to abortion facilities in other states. The group’s website promotes information about “self-managed” abortions via abortion-inducing drugs, and historically has lobbied against pro-life legislation at the Arkansas Capitol.

All of this underscores what we have said in the past: It’s important to prohibit abortion through legislation, but we need to work to eliminate the demand for abortion as well.

One way Arkansans can do that is by supporting pro-life organizations that empower women with real options besides abortion.

Arkansas is home to more than 60 organizations that assist pregnant women — including some 45 pregnancy resource centers that help women with unplanned pregnancies.

As we recently noted, the State of Arkansas is nearly finished awarding $1 million in grants to pregnancy-help organizations for the 2022-2023 budget cycle and is set to provide additional funding in the coming months. That money is going to help a lot of women and children in Arkansas.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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