Category: Abortion

State Supreme Court Rejects Arkansas Abortion Amendment

The following is a press release from Family Council Action Committee.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 22, 2024

On Thursday, the Arkansas Supreme Court issued a decision effectively blocking the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 from the November ballot.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox said, “This is a good decision. The Arkansas Abortion Amendment is a deceptively worded measure that would write abortion into the state constitution. It legalizes unrestricted abortion for any reason during the first five months of pregnancy. Its various exceptions would allow abortions up to birth in many cases. The amendment does not contain any medical licensing or health and safety standards for abortion, and it does not require abortions to be performed by a physician or in a licensed medical facility. It even nullifies all state laws that conflict with the amendment — which means Arkansas may not be able to enforce basic regulations like parental-consent and informed-consent requirements or laws prohibiting taxpayer-funded abortion in the state. Even Roe v. Wade was not as extreme as this abortion measure.”

Cox applauded all of the groups and individuals who stopped the abortion amendment. “This radical abortion amendment might have made the ballot had it not been for all of the pro-life Arkansans who spread the word about it and had it not been for the Arkansans Secretary of State and Arkansas Attorney General being willing to enforce Arkansas’ ballot initiative laws. This campaign has revealed that Arkansas is home to a strong, pro-life community. Groups like Arkansas Right to Life, Family Council Action Committee, Stronger Arkansas, the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, and churches along with ministers, elected officials such as Governor Sanders, and many volunteers all came together to win this great victory. Secretary of State Thurston and Attorney General Griffin made the right call rejecting the abortion measure’s petitions. Today the Arkansas Supreme Court agreed. Arkansas’ women and unborn children will be protected from unrestricted abortion as a result. Arkansas remains the most pro-life state in America. That’s something to celebrate.”

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AR Supreme Court upholds the rule of law in AAA lawsuit

The following is a press release from Arkansas Right to Life.

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Supreme Court has upheld the rule of law concerning a lawsuit filed by Arkansans for Limited Government and their Arkansas Abortion Amendment (AAA), said Rose Mimms executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, in a statement following the decision.

Arkansas Right to Life was involved in multiple efforts to defeat the abortion amendment and will continue working to support pregnant mothers and their children through educational and outreach programs, she said.

“Arkansas has dodged a deadly assault on our women and children with the disqualification of the amendment for the 2024 ballot and we are extremely grateful to the court for their rejection of the amendment as the law required and for the reprieve that Arkansas women and their babies will enjoy for at least the next two years until they try again,” said Mimms.

The amendment sought to radically alter the Arkansas State Constitution by amending Section 2 Public Policy of Amendment 68: “The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, as permitted by the Federal Constitution,” by adding “and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas,” said Mimms.

“This extreme measure would forever change the Arkansas Constitution to allow abortion up until birth and ‘all provisions of the Constitution, statutes, and common laws of this State to the extent inconsistent or in conflict with any provision of this Amendment are expressly declared null and void … that would prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion services,’” Mimms said.

Mimms added, “In addition, the amendment forbids any future governmental actions to ensure the safety, health, and lives of pregnant women and newborns in Arkansas in an unregulated and unaccountable abortion industry in our state.

“Arkansas Right to Life will continue to partner with the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Pregnancy Network, and churches throughout our state to provide every pregnant woman or girl with support and services that will work for healthy and happy outcomes for mothers, babies, and their families.”

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