TRUMPET NOTES: September 28, 2022

Arkansas’ Amendment 68 Prevents Pro-Abortion Rulings

A county judge’s decision to temporarily block enforcement of a pro-life law in Indiana has left some people wondering if courts in Arkansas could also suspend the state’s law protecting unborn children from abortion. Last week, Owen County Judge Kelsey Hanlon temporarily paused enforcement of Indiana’s state law that prohibits abortion except in cases of rape or incest, to save the life of the mother or if the baby has a lethal anomaly. The judge cited the equal protection clause in the state’s constitution, and the decision will remain in place while the Indiana courts evaluate the pro-life law.

As a result, some people have speculated that Arkansas’ pro-life law generally prohibiting abortion could similarly be blocked in state court, but that is highly unlikely, because of Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution. Amendment 68 reads, “Public funding — No public funds will be used to pay for any abortion, except to save the mother’s life; Public policy — The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, to the extent permitted by the Federal Constitution; Effect of amendment — This amendment will not affect contraceptives or require an appropriation of public funds.”

Amendment 68 says, in no uncertain terms, that Arkansas’ policy is to protect the lives of unborn children to whatever extent federal law allows. Since the U.S. Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade, that means Arkansas’ constitution lets the state enforce any reasonable laws restricting or prohibiting abortion. Family Council is not aware of any amendment addressing abortion in the Indiana Constitution the way Arkansas’ does.

A judge in Arkansas would have to take serious liberties with the Arkansas Constitution to block enforcement of our state’s pro-life laws. (familycouncil.org)

Threat to Legalize Abortions Up to Birth Nationwide

President Joe Biden promised to force states to legalize abortions through all nine months of pregnancy on Sept. 23 if Democrats win two more seats in the U.S. Senate in November. He made the remark in a speech to the National Education Association, a teacher’s union, in Washington, D.C. “If you give me two more senators in the United States Senate, I promise you, I promise you, we’re going to codify Roe and once again make Roe the law of the land,” Biden said.

The president especially urged women to vote for pro-abortion Democrats in November, assuming falsely that most women support his extreme pro-abortion agenda.” (lifenews.com)

Military Brass Doubles Down on Wokeness

The military is struggling mightily to meet its recruitment goals. In August, reports came in that the Army had only “recruited about 52% of its goal for fiscal year 2022 and is likely to wind up short by as many as 15,000 recruits.” Significant shortages in personnel are also being reported by the Air Force and Navy. Meanwhile, Biden’s military leaders continue to flounder in “woke” ideologies that are being pushed on servicemembers.

A shrinking pool of potential recruits due to increasing trends in obesity, drug use and poor academic performance is partially to blame for the recruitment shortfall. But what cannot be ignored are the woke policies being forced onto our servicemembers by the Biden administration and Democrats, which damage morale, increase the number of troops voluntarily leaving and scare away potential recruits.

The Biden administration, indeed, continues to refuse to back off of their onerous requirements for all servicemembers to receive the COVID-19 shot, despite Biden declaring that “the pandemic is over” and despite multiple court losses after the mandate was challenged by troops. Still, even with massive recruiting shortfalls and a military that is being increasingly stretched thin across the U.S. and the globe, the Biden administration is on the verge of dismissing upwards of 60,000 troops (the actual number of unvaccinated troops could be as high as 500,000, or a quarter of the military) and seemingly not caring. (washingtonstand.com)