Pro-lifers share thoughts following disbandment of Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling

Abortion is now illegal in Arkansas following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and anyone who performs an abortion is subject to a felony charge.

Under Arkansas Act 180, a trigger law designed to take effect after the disbandment of Roe v. Wade, states the felony would demand a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years or both.

The law also does not make exceptions for women who have been raped or are victims of incest. The only exception to the law is that it allows abortions in the case that the woman's life is in danger.

Related news: With Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, abortion now illegal in Arkansas

Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined the conversation on Twitter, applauding the court's ruling.

The Family Council, a conservative group based out of Little Rock, helped the legislature design the law when lawmakers passed it in 2019, said Jerry Cox, the executive director of the group.

“Well this decision is historic," Cox said. "It’s historic because the U.S. Supreme Court has corrected one of the most egregious court decisions in the history of our nation."

Cox defended the law's exclusion of rape and incest cases and said that abortion brings more trauma to women.

“As much as I would like to be able to erase the trauma of a woman being a victim of rape or incest having an abortion doesn’t take away that pain," Cox said.

He argued that having an abortion adds to the pain.

“In Arkansas at least we’re not going to put women through the trauma of abortion and complicate an already difficult decision for them," Cox said.

Cox also applauded the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. He said that the move takes the decision from unelected judges and gives it back to elected officials, bringing more power to the people.

“In that regard, it’s a victory for democracy," Cox said.

Rep. Cindy Crawford said she has been fighting against abortion for her entire adult life.

“I’ve been in tears," Crawford said. "I'm still in tears I have fought my whole adult life… for babies and to help take care of women to choose the life of their babies and today is so monumental that I can't even put it into words."

Crawford and Cox both agreed that the next step needs to be to care for women who can no longer get abortions in Arkansas.

“We need to work fearlessly to help get these babies placed and take care of the moms and the dads who are in this situation," Crawford said.

Cox said the goal should be to make it to where abortions are no longer needed.

“Our goal now needs to be to not only to make abortion illegal it should be to make it irrelevant," Cox said.

Alex Gladden is a University of Arkansas graduate. She previously reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Jonesboro Sun before joining the Times Record. She can be contacted at agladden@swtimes.com.  

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Pro-lifers discuss Arkansas trigger law following Roe v. Wade ruling