FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 16, 2013

On Tuesday Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement in response to a press announcement that the ACLU plans to file suit against the State of Arkansas over Act 301, the fetal-heartbeat law sponsored by Senator Jason Rapert.

“This is a good law,” said Jerry Cox. “All it says is that, barring certain instances, an abortion cannot be performed after the twelfth week of pregnancy if a fetal heartbeat is detected. A heartbeat is the number-one way we determine whether someone is alive. If an unborn baby has a heartbeat, that baby is alive, and his or her life should not be taken.”

Cox said he is not surprised by the lawsuit. “This is what groups like the ACLU do. They try to thwart the will of the people by asking the courts to strike down good laws. The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and other pro-choice organizations have opposed virtually every pro-life bill introduced in the Arkansas Legislature over the past twenty-five years. I’m not surprised they are against this one too.”

Cox said he believes the tide of public opinion is turning rapidly on the issue of abortion. “States across the country are passing stronger and stronger pro-life legislation because the people of those states believe in the sanctity of human life. North Dakota recently passed a law that is even stronger than our law in Arkansas. These laws challenge the status quo of abortion, and that’s something pro-choice organizations would rather not see happen.”

Cox said concerns this lawsuit could cost taxpayers should not be an issue. “If the State of Arkansas ends up spending public funds to defend a law that protects human life, that’s an excellent use of our public dollars. The fact that the ACLU or any other group threatens a lawsuit should never deter the Arkansas Legislature from doing what is right. Thankfully the Arkansas Legislature did the right thing by passing this good law. Now it’s up to the courts to do the right thing as well by upholding it.”

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