I want to talk about last night’s news regarding the Supreme Court’s draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. (To be clear: This decision hasn’t gone into effect yet.)

As a committed Christian and ordained minister, I approach this issue with deep thought, compassion, and care — and don't use it as a wedge issue that divides us more deeply. Getting an abortion is one of the most deeply personal decisions that can be made. But I trust women and their families to make that decision — not partisan legislators. 

This potential decision from the Supreme Court undermines decades of judicial precedent, and also opens the floodgates for vigilante-style laws that pit neighbor against neighbor and would lead to chaos and a new era of government-mandated pregnancies. 

And Arkansas is one of the few states with trigger laws that would immediately and automatically ban abortion as soon as Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Arkansas cannot go down this path. Extreme policies like this will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable, such as people of color and young women with little to no financial resources. I plainly believe that people should safely and readily access healthcare without fear of undue interference or intimidation by the state.

As Governor, I will maintain supporting the common sense protections and restrictions permitted by Roe v. Wade. At the same time, I will focus on creating policies that address the root causes for why people seek abortions — like financial insecurity, medical issues, housing insecurity, and lack of access to family planning.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for being with us. 

Chris Jones