Legislators Propose Bad Hate Crimes Bill

Hate Crimes, News, , ,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 25, 2020

Little Rock – On Wednesday, Arkansas State Senator Jim Hendren (R) – Gravette and State Representative Nicole Clowney (D) – Fayetteville renewed calls for Arkansas to pass hate crimes legislation.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “No law has ever stopped hate, and no law ever will. It’s a matter of the heart. The experience of other states proves that hate crimes laws do not work. Over the past few years we’ve seen despicable crimes committed in states that have hate crimes laws. According to the FBI, the states with the most hate crimes all have hate crimes laws. It’s clear that hate crimes laws simply do not work. This hate crimes law does nothing to address issues like police brutality, no-knock warrants, racial profiling, and unequal justice. It does nothing to address the real issues that people are deeply concerned about. We all agree something needs to be done to address racism in our state, but passing a hate crimes law isn’t the answer.”

Cox said hate crimes laws promote unequal justice. “Laws like the one being proposed here in Arkansas treat crimes and their victims unequally. Targeting anyone and committing a crime is wrong and currently illegal. When hate crimes laws levy harsher penalties for targeting some people but not others, the punishments can differ even if the crimes are the same. The penalty for assault or murder should be the same no matter the victim’s race, religion, or sexual-orientation.”

Cox said Family Council will oppose any effort to pass hate crimes legislation in Arkansas. “We have opposed hate crimes laws every time they have been proposed at the Arkansas Legislature since the 1990s. This legislation was a bad idea 25 years ago, and it’s still a bad idea today.”

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Arkansas A.G. Warns Abortion Facilities to Stop Doing Abortions During COVID-19 Outbreak

Abortion, COVID-19, News, , ,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 10, 2020

Arkansas’ abortion facilities have continued performing abortions despite the COVID-19 outbreak and guidelines and directives from Governor Hutchinson and Secretary of Health Dr. Nathaniel Smith.

On Friday Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a warning to all healthcare facilities in the state — including abortion facilities — that they must comply with the state’s public health directives by postponing surgeries that are not medically necessary.

“Arkansans must work together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” Attorney General Rutledge said in a written statement. “All medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortions, must be postponed until after this crisis has ended. Those who violate the Department of Health’s directive will be met with decisive action, and my office will forcefully defend the State officials involved in keeping Arkansans safe.” According to the A.G.’s statement, facilities that do not comply with the state’s public health directives could have their license suspended.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement praising Attorney General Rutledge, Governor Hutchinson, and Secretary of Health Dr. Smith for their leadership during the pandemic.

“This is the right thing to do,” Cox said. “I have personally driven by Arkansas’ abortion facilities this week. Their parking lots have been full of cars, and some of the vehicles have had license plates from out of state. Telling abortion facilities that they cannot perform elective abortions during this time will help preserve medical resources and slow the spread of the coronavirus.”

Family Council will continue to monitor and report on this situation as it develops.

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Recreational Marijuana Would Harm Arkansans

Marijuana, News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 9, 2019

On Tuesday activists in Arkansas announced plans to propose measures legalizing recreational marijuana in Arkansas, letting Arkansans grow marijuana at home, and letting a criminal convicted of a low-level marijuana offense petition a court for expungement of the conviction.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement saying, “There’s nothing safe about marijuana. People are killed every day in marijuana-related car accidents in this country. Children in Colorado, California, and other states where marijuana is legal have been hospitalized after getting ahold of an adult’s marijuana. In Alabama, a toddler recently died in a hot car while his parents allegedly were passed out under the influence of marijuana. Legalizing recreational marijuana will put Arkansans at risk.”

Cox said legalization will not end the illegal sale of marijuana. “Legalizing marijuana doesn’t eliminate the black market for marijuana. In Colorado, people still buy and sell marijuana illegally all the time so they can avoid paying taxes. Drug dealers buy marijuana in states like Colorado or California so they can sell it illegally in other states.”

Cox said recreational marijuana ultimately will cost taxpayers. “The taxes on marijuana can’t possibly cover all the cost to the taxpayer. This measure will require the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Division to spend public funds overseeing recreational marijuana sales and use in Arkansas. The measure lets people grow marijuana at home. Every law enforcement agency in Arkansas from the county sheriff to the state police will have to spend time and money making sure folks growing marijuana at home aren’t selling it to their neighbors. Taxpayers are the ones who will have to foot that bill.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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