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Upselling Death: Guest Column

Feb 3, 2025Jerry CoxCurrent Events

Last fall, to pressure passage of the Terminally Ill Adults bill in the House of Commons, advocates of legal suicide in the U.K. took an innovative approach. They plastered the London Underground with posters that resembled ads for antidepressants or headache medicine. The most prominent featured a wealthy, healthy woman dancing in her kitchen in her pjs with a big smile on her face. The caption read, “My dying wish is my family won’t see me suffer and I won’t have to.”

In the U.K., the advertising of porridge (for health reasons, ironically) and politics is banned on the Tube. Upselling death is allowed. Though good Samaritans covered the posters with information for suicide prevention hotlines, defenders stood by the marketing. One spokesman said, “The campaign uses positive imagery of these people living life on their own terms, alongside messages about why they are campaigning for greater choice.”

The campaign marked a new chapter in death culture. Long gone are the Jack Kevorkian days of peddling cold and clinical death machines. Even the “it’s the compassionate thing to do” and “who wants to suffer?” guilt campaigns have been traded in. This U.K. campaign was about autonomy, the promise of a final way to express one’s “expressive individualism.” In this vision, death is the designer capstone of a fully autonomous life.

This is the necessary end of the sharp turn inward, to the unencumbered self that demands life, and now even death, on our own terms. Francis Schaeffer recognized that what he called the pursuit of “personal peace and affluence” was, ultimately, a rejection of God as the maker of morality and meaning. Carl Trueman recognized that “expressive individualism” is a rejection of God as the Creator and thus a rejection of who we are in His image.

But if life’s real meaning is autonomy, why wouldn’t the meaning of death be the same? Previous generations called one another to memento mori, to remember that they will die as a way of knowing how to live well. Ours, fully detached from God, wants to live and die in whichever way we choose.

To be certain, to demand autonomous death is also to reject God, the One who, Scripture says, “holds the keys to death and Hades.” And, like all claims of autonomy, it is an illusion. The reality is always less choice for the most vulnerable.

For example, a British judge recently ruled that a woman on life support since May should be taken off because it was “in her best interest to die.” The family, who had been insisting the patient responded to them with eye movements and hand squeezes, says she would not agree to this motion because of her Christian convictions. The woman was pulled from life support late last month. The slope between the right to die and the duty to die is certainly slippery when the state is involved. This is most obvious in Canada, where the euphemistic “Medical Aid in Dying” (or MAiD) has led to the early deaths of autistic people and drug addicts, among others. In fact, everywhere death has been legalized in this way, the “right to die” soon becomes the pressure to and eventually the duty to die.

There are a number of steps involved in this process. First, the meaning of words such as “terminal” and “hopeless” and “illness” slide down the slope. Soon, they expand to include those not facing imminent death or even a physical condition. Second, in another diabolical play on words, anyone who opposes such “freedom” is accused of lacking “compassion” or care for one’s “basic dignity.”

Somewhere around this time, the public learns of “financial realities” involved. In Canada, “watchdog” and “oversight” groups released “studies” demonstrating how MAiD would save millions of dollars. According to a recent article in The Telegraph, if the Terminally Ill Adults bill becomes law in the U.K., families whose elderly members choose this kind of death will receive a tax break. In other words, “If assisted dying becomes legal … it could leave someone … with an agonising choice between prolonging their life or saving their family hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

Our words either reflect or distort reality. That is why, as G.K. Chesterton said, “if words aren’t worth fighting over, what on earth is?” For years, I misremembered another quote from Confucius: “When words lose their meaning, people lose their lives.” Apparently, he actually said, “people lose their freedom.” However, had he witnessed the advance of assisted suicide, he may have said it as I remembered.

In reaction to the U.K. law, Glen Scrivener posted, “Assisted dying is cheap. Love is costly. Life is invaluable.” His use of these words is correct because, in truth, we are not our own. We are created by God in His image. Life and death belong ultimately to Him.

Beer, Bills, and Big Business: Here’s a Recap of Week 3 at the Capitol and the Issues We’re Tracking

Jan 31, 2025Jerry CoxLegislatureArkansas Legislature, Update

The Arkansas Legislature is wrapping up the third week of its regular 2025 session.

On Tuesday the House Judiciary Committee passed H.B. 1204 — a bad bill limiting what people who are injured through no fault of their own may recover in damages for their injuries.

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1204 on Wednesday and sent it to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.

The House Rules Committee passed H.B. 1173 expanding the legal alcohol content in beer and malt beverages.

On Thursday the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee passed S.B. 98, a bad bill expanding alcohol delivery in Arkansas.

Below is a rundown of some of the legislation Family Council is following.

Good Bills Filed

H.B. 1139 (Religious Liberty): This good bill by Rep. Brit McKenzie (R — Rogers) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers) would strengthen Arkansas’ law concerning public school “released time.” The bill clarifies that public schools must excuse students from school, if the students’ parents request it, to receive religious instruction off-campus. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1180 (Pro-Life): This good bill by Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) ensures public schools show students a high-definition ultrasound video that is at least three minutes long as part of sex-education and human growth and development education courses. The bill also ensures students see Live Action’s computer-animated “Meet Baby Olivia” video that teaches about human development from conception to birth. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1202 (Pro-Life): This good bill by the Joint Budget Committee appropriates money for the Department of Finance and Administration for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The budget includes $2 million in grant funding to pregnancy help organizations that promote maternal and infant wellness and provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1142 (Bioethics): This good bill by Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs) and Sen. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville) would promote ethical fertility treatments such as restorative reproductive medicine in Arkansas. The bill also protects healthcare providers who have conscientious objections to unethical in vitro fertilization (IVF) and similar procedures. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1221 (Ballot Initiatives): This good bill by Rep. David Ray (R — Maumelle) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) clarifies Arkansas’ laws concerning initiatives and referenda. The bill makes it clear that petition signatures expire at the end of a General Election cycle. This would prevent canvassers from collecting signatures across multiple election cycles and help ensure sponsors don’t submit old signatures that are outdated or more likely to be invalid. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1222 (Ballot Initiatives): This good bill by Rep. David Ray (R — Maumelle) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) clarifies Arkansas’ laws concerning initiatives and referenda. The bill the Arkansas Attorney General cannot approve a measure’s sponsors to begin collecting signatures to place a measure on the ballot if the measure conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or federal law. The bill also prevents sponsors from asking the attorney general to certify conflicting measures. Read The Bill Here.

H.R. 1006 (Marriage): This good resolution by Rep. David Ray (R — Maumelle) recognizes February 7-14 as “National Marriage Week” in Arkansas. The measure notes how marriage is the foundation of strong families and societies and that healthy marriages improve people’s emotional, physical, and financial well-being. Read The Resolution Here.

H.B. 1162 (Good Friday): This good bill by Rep. Matt Duffield (R — Russellville) would establish Good Friday as an official state holiday in Arkansas. Some school districts in Arkansas already close in honor of Good Friday. This bill would ensure Arkansas’ public school students, teachers, and state employees are able to observe and celebrate Good Friday with their churches and their families. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 49 (Used Car Tax): This good bill by Sen. Justin Boyd (R — Fort Smith) and Rep. Lee Johnson (R — Greenwood) would eliminate the sales tax on used cars sold for less than $10,000. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 82 (Used Car Tax): This good bill by Sen. John Payton (R — Wilburn) would eliminate the sales tax on used cars sold for less than $10,000. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1082 (Internet Privacy): This good bill by Rep. Zack Gramlich (R — Fort Smith) and Sen. Justin Boyd (R — Fort Smith) generally prevents websites and similar platforms from collecting, using, or sharing personal data of users aged 16 or younger without parental or individual consent. It also addresses targeted advertising based on children’s personal data. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1083 (Internet Privacy): This good bill by Rep. Zack Gramlich (R — Fort Smith) and Sen. Justin Boyd (R — Fort Smith) requires internet platforms to adopt safety measures concerning data collection, harmful content, and advertising. The bill would require platforms to automatically default to the most protective privacy settings for minors, and it would require them to give parents tools to manage privacy settings, monitor usage, and restrict purchases for their children online. Read The Bill Here.

Bad Bills Filed

H.B. 1204 (Tort Reform): This bad bill by Rep. Jon Eubanks (R — Paris) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R — Mountain View) restricts what people can recover in damages when they are injured through no fault of their own. The bill effectively reduces what a person or company might be forced to pay when they injure an innocent person. H.B. 1204 benefits insurance companies who might not be forced to pay as much in lawsuits. That might increase the insurance companies’ profits, but there is no guarantee it will result in lower premiums for customers. Family Council has concerns about potential, unintended consequences this bill could have on families. See How Your Representative Voted Here. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 98 (Alcohol): This bad bill by Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville) and Rep. John Maddox (R — Mena) expands alcohol delivery in Arkansas. The measure expands the list of stores that can deliver alcohol to include grocery stores, small farm wine convenience stores, and retail beer sellers. The bill also lets delivery companies obtain permits to deliver alcohol to consumers on behalf of the stores. Currently, retailers are directly responsible for ensuring all alcohol deliveries comply with state laws — including laws against delivering to minors. S.B. 98 shifts liability from the retailer to the delivery service. Right now, retailers have accountability in following alcohol laws. Under S.B. 98, alcohol deliverers may not have the same amount of oversight or accountability — which, for example, could increase the chances of alcohol being delivered to a minor. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1173 (Alcohol): This bad bill by Rep. Matt Brown (R — Conway) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R — Bull Shoals) raises the legal alcohol content for beer from 5% to 14% alcohol by weight, and it allows malt beverages to contain up to 21% alcohol by weight. Under this measure, beer could contain nearly three times as much alcohol as it currently does. That could make stronger alcoholic drinks more widely available in stores and other locations where beer is currently sold across Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1011 (Abortion): This bad bill by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) would repeal virtually all of Arkansas’ pro-life laws, and it would legalize abortion throughout the state. Read The Bill Here.

S.C.R. 2 (DEI): This bad resolution by Sen. Jamie Scott (D — North Little Rock) and Rep. Jay Richardson (D — Fort Smith) calls Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) “essential to creating a society where all individuals are valued, heard, and included,” and says that “efforts to attack DEI are harmful to the bottom line and health of our economy.” DEI policies are closely aligned with critical theory and have been shown to be bad for business and government. Read The Resolution Here.

H.B. 1013 (Bioethics): This bad bill by Rep. Ashley Hudson (D – Little Rock) governs fertility treatments in Arkansas. The bill would let fertility labs in Arkansas create, freeze, store, and kill human embryos as part of unethical in vitro fertilization—or IVF—practices. Human beings are not lab material. This bad bill fails to respect every unborn child’s right to life. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1014 (Bioethics): This bad bill by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) would require the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program to pay for unethical IVF practices. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1020 (School Choice): This bad bill by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) would repeal the 2023 LEARNS Act’s education freedom account program that lets students use public funds to pay for an education at a private school or at home. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1028 (Libraries): This bad bill by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) would repeal Arkansas’ laws that protect children from harmful sexual material. It also would let libraries lend or share obscene material, and it requires public libraries to have “a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books or other materials because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval” in order to receive public funding. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1031 (Sex Education): This bad bill by Rep. Denise Garner (D — Fayetteville) would make it possible for the Arkansas Department of Education to implement Planned Parenthood-style sex education as part of larger changes to public school health curriculum. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1032 (LGBT): This bad bill by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) would prevent healthcare professionals from helping people overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion. The way the bill is written, H.B. 1032 would let counselors, doctors, and other healthcare professionals encourage people to be LGBT, but healthcare professionals would not be able to help people overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or accept their biological sex. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1033 (Red Flag Law): This bad bill by Rep. Tippi McCullough (D — Little Rock) would create a “red flag” law in Arkansas making it easier for authorities to confiscate firearms from citizens that the government deem a danger to themselves or others. Read The Bill Here.

Other Legislation

H.B. 1018 (Family and Medical Leave): This bill by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) would create an income tax credit for employers who provide paid family and medical leave, such as maternity leave, to employees. Family Council has no position on this bill. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1044 (Raffles): This bill by Rep. R. J. Hawk (R — Bryant) and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R — Little Rock) amends Arkansas’ charitable raffles and bingo laws. The bill would let colleges and universities conduct raffles in-person or online during sporting events. Schools would be able to sell raffle tickets themselves or use a nonprofit charity affiliated with the school to conduct the raffle. The bill contains a provision preventing casinos from operating or administering a raffle on a school’s behalf. Schools could use raffle proceeds to benefit school athletic programs — including purchasing and maintaining athletic facilities or providing financial aid, scholarships, stipends, and other compensation to student-athletes. Family Council has no position on this bill. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1323 (China): This bill by Rep. Mindy McAlindon (R — Centerton) prohibits Arkansas’ public pension and retirement system from investing in entities closely connected with the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. The measure does not affect private investments. The bill would help Arkansas avoid financial ties with companies affiliated with the Chinese government. Family Council has no position on this bill. Read The Bill Here.

Amendments Filed Dealing With Marijuana, Casinos in Arkansas

Jan 31, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Casino Gambling, Marijuana

Three measures filed Thursday would amend the Arkansas Constitution concerning marijuana and casino gambling.

S.J.R. 6 by Sen. Bryan King (R — Green Forrest) would let the state use medical marijuana and casino tax-revenue for crime prevention.

S.J.R. 7 and S.J.R. 8 by Sen. King are “shell” amendments dealing with medical marijuana and casinos. A shell amendment is a measure that tells what the legislation’s purpose is, but it has not been fleshed out with actual language. Language can be added to shell amendments at a later point in the legislative session.

Amendment 98 to the Arkansas Constitution legalized “medical” marijuana, and Amendment 100 legalized casino gambling in Arkansas. Today, marijuana and casino gambling are multimillion dollar businesses.

There is evidence that casino gambling is preying on vulnerable Arkansans and that “medical” marijuana in Arkansas may simply be recreational marijuana by another name.

These industries are out of control. At this point, any legislation regulating marijuana and casino gambling might be a welcome change for the State of Arkansas.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.