Tag: Pro-Life Counties

Columbia County Passes Pro-Life Resolution

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.

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Pulaski County Quorum Court Tables Pro-Life Resolution

On Tuesday evening the Pulaski County Quorum Court tabled a proposed resolution that would have affirmed that the county is Pro-Life.

Pulaski County is the largest county in Arkansas, with a population of 397,821 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Last year the Arkansas Legislature enacted Act 392 of 2021 by Rep. Kendon Underwood (R – Cave Springs) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) affirming that cities and counties can designate themselves as Pro-Life.

Act 392 also says that Pro-Life Communities can install signs or banners announcing that they are Pro-Life.

To date, Benton, Washington, Crawford, Cleburne, Pope, Jackson, Saline, Faulkner, Perry, Sebastian, Lee, White, Prairie, Searcy, Carrol, Newton, Boone, Hot Spring, Madison, and Fulton counties have adopted Pro-Life resolutions.

Pro-Life Cities in Arkansas include Marianna, Russellville, Springdale, LaGrange, Moro, Aubrey, Haynes, Marshall, Western Grove, Leslie, Tontitown, Jasper, Bryant, and Lowell.

Unfortunately, the Pulaski County Quorum Court failed to affirm that it is a Pro-Life County on Tuesday night.

Pulaski County’s proposed pro-life resolution read,

A RESOLTUION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY AFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT OF THE COUNTY TO PROTECTING THE UNALIENABLE RIGHT TO LIFE OF EVERY PERSON; AND DECLARING THE COUNTY OF PULASKI, ARKANSAS TO BE A PRO-LIFE COUNTY.

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, Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution states that the policy of the State of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of state and local governments to protect the unalienable right to life of every person within their respective jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court stated in Poelker v. Doe, 432 U.S. 519 (1977), that the United States Constitution does not forbid a municipality, pursuant to democratic processes, from expressing a preference for normal childbirth instead of abortion;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Quorum Court of the County of Pulaski, Arkansas, that:

1) It is the policy of the County of Pulaski to promote and protect the dignity and humanity of all persons at all stages of life from conception until natural death.

2) The County of Pulaski declares itself to be a Pro-Life County.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade means state and local government are now fully free to affirm that they oppose abortion and support life.

More than ever, citizens and their elected officials need to establish exactly where they stand on the issue of abortion.

Public opinion polling shows most Arkansans believe abortion ought to be either completely illegal or permitted only under certain circumstances.

The Arkansas Legislature has prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother. Recent polling indicates that a majority of likely voters do not think the law should be changed to make it easier to get an abortion.

We hope Pulaski County — and every other county in Arkansas — will someday choose to stand for life.

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

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