On August 14 the Columbia County Quorum Court passed a resolution declaring itself a Pro-Life County.
In 2021 the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 392 affirming that cities and counties can designate themselves as Pro-Life.
This year lawmakers passed Act 699 by Sen. Joshua Bryant (R – Rogers) and Rep. Kendon Underwood (R – Cave Springs) expanding the law and letting other political subdivisions of the state pass Pro-Life resolutions as well.
To date, nearly half of all Arkansans live in a Pro-Life City or Pro-Life County.
Columbia County’s Pro-Life Resolution says,
WHEREAS, Ark. Code Ann. §14-1-108 (Act 699 of 2023, enacted April 11, 2023, effective August 1, 2023) provides, in part, that a county by resolution may state the policy of the county to be Pro-Life; and
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence declares that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life; and
WHEREAS, the Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 68, states that the policy of the state is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth; and
WHEREAS, it is the duty of state and local government to protect the unalienable right to life of every person within their respective jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court found in Poelker v. Doe, 432 U.S. 519 (1977), that the United States Constitution does not prohibit a municipality using democratic processes from expressing a preference for normal childbirth rather than abortion.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE QUORUM COURT OF THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA, STATE OF ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. That the policy of Columbia County is to promote and protect the dignity and humanity of all persons at all stages of life from conception until natural death.
SECTION 2. That Columbia County is to be known as a “Pro-Life County”
The U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade means state and local governments are now completely free to affirm that they support life.
More than ever, citizens and their elected officials need to establish exactly where they stand on the issue of abortion.
It’s good to see citizens in Columbia County taking a firm stand for the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.