Important Bill Introduced in Legislature

By Russell Threet, Pastor • West Park, Ozark

The churches, pastors and members of our association are nearly universal in our belief that abortion is murder and a sin before God according to the Bible. With this article, I want to put out a call for Christians to practice what we preach in the way we view abortion legislation. As I write this, the Arkansas legislature has convened its legislative session. You need to be aware that there is a bill that has been filed in this session that, if passed, would provide equal protection for the unborn in Arkansas. This bill is identified as House Bill (HB)1174.

Many may be laboring under the belief that abortion is illegal in Arkansas. That is not true. There are still babies being murdered regularly in our state under the cover of law. The use of abortion pills has increased exponentially in the last couple of years, and this practice is on a trajectory that will likely account for more abortions in Arkansas than we were seeing in the pre-Dobbs decision era. The federal government is also working to expand access to these drugs and allow them to be prescribed to end pregnancies well beyond the 10-11-week mark, which is their current maximum window of prescribed use.

That is one of many reasons that HB1174 is needed. It will seek to provide equal protection under Arkansas law for all persons, born and unborn. It says, in part “All provisions of the Arkansas Criminal Code apply to a prosecution for the death of an unborn child that would apply to a prosecution for the death of any other person, including applicable presumptions, defenses, justifications, laws of parties, immunities and clemencies.”

For decades we have proclaimed in the pulpit and in politics that abortion is murder, but we have failed to practice what we preach. There is no state in our nation where an unborn child has the same protection under the law as you or me. HB1174 would provide that equal protection. There will be much opposition to this type of legislation from unexpected places, but my prayer is that we try to assess this issue biblically. If abortion is murder (and it is), we have the responsibility to protect the most innocent among us and “deliver those who are drawn toward death and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter” (Prov. 24:11 NKJV). Join us in this effort by doing the following:

• Contacting your legislators (visit arkansashouse.org/learn/district-map to find your representative and senate.arkansas.gov/senators/senator-search to find your senator) and let them know you support HB1174 and want them to support it in any way possible.

• Inform others in your circles of influence so they can also get involved in promoting HB1174.

Let’s practice what we preach! Feel free to contact me at brorussellthreet@gmail.com if I can help in any way. I would be glad to talk to pastors, churches or other groups about the bill and how they can get involved.