Sound Legislation

Arkansas takes steps to protect the unborn

Last month, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed legislation that would automatically ban abortion in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturns the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling.

Four other states—including Louisiana and Mississippi—have similar laws.

Texas, along with seven other states, are considering such legislation.

Whether the court will ever overturn Roe v. Wade is the big question.

In the meantime Arkansas is taking another step to protect the unborn.

Last week, the state Legislature approved a bill that would ban abortions after 18 weeks, down from the 20-week limit currently in force.

Hutchinson has the bill now and he has said he supports it. When he signs it Arkansas, along with Utah, which passed a similar bill last week, would have the strictest time limits in the country.

We don’t know if Roe v. Wade will ever be thrown out and abortion law left to the states, as it should be, but we support stricter regulation that looks likely to pass court muster.

We believe automatic ban on abortions should Roe v. Wade ever be reversed reflects the will of the majority of Arkansans. And we see the 18-week limit as reasonable under current law.

We support the Legislature and the governor in this fight.