Americans Split on Morality of Abortion: Gallup Poll

Abortion, , ,

Last week Gallup released its annual Values and Beliefs poll.

The poll shows 47% of Americans surveyed believe abortion is morally wrong while 44% believe it is morally acceptable.

Pollsters noted that of the 21 moral issues they considered in the survey, liberals and conservatives were most divided on abortion. Seventy percent of liberals said abortion is morally acceptable while only 18% of conservatives said it was morally acceptable.

Gallup also examined Americans’ attitudes about physician-assisted suicide.

The percentage of Americans who believe physician-assisted suicide is morally acceptable has fallen from 57% in 2017 to 51% this year.

It’s encouraging to see nearly half of Americans morally object to abortion

A recent poll by CBS News found most Americans believe abortion ought to be either completely illegal or legal under fewer circumstances than it currently is.

Time and again surveys have found Americans oppose abortion on demand —  particularly in Arkansas.

These findings just go to show that slowly but surely we are winning the fight to protect innocent human life.

You can read Gallup’s full poll here.

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Another Study Links Marijuana With Psychosis and Suicide

Marijuana

“Cannabis legalization has led to significant health consequences, particularly to patients in emergency departments and hospitals in Colorado. The most concerning include psychosis, suicide, and other substance abuse.”

That’s the opening line from a study published last year by a branch of the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers noted that marijuana use is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide — particularly among adolescents.

The study also highlighted the link between marijuana use and schizophrenia and psychosis, writing,

Previous studies . . . have found substantial evidence of a statistical association between cannabis use and the development of schizophrenia or other psychoses, with the highest risk among the most frequent users. . . . The researchers estimated that 13% of cases of schizophrenia could have been averted if no one in the cohort had used cannabis. These findings have been reproduced repeatedly and across the world.

This is not the first study to link marijuana use with serious problems.

A 2019 study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions found that marijuana addiction among young people is tied to increased risk of heart problems.

A second study found regular marijuana use increases a young person’s risk of suffering a stroke.

Researchers have repeatedly found marijuana use is tied to stroke as well as permanent loss in IQ and an increased risk for schizophrenia.

That’s part of the reason why the U.S. Surgeon General has issued warnings about marijuana.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that marijuana is a dangerous drug, groups in Arkansas are currently working to legalize marijuana, and Arkansans recently purchased record amounts of so-called “medical marijuana.”

As we have said time and time again: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

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Legislators Propose Bad Hate Crimes Bill

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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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