State House 46
1. Abortion: Arkansas’ current law that prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Support
Human life begins at the zinc spark of conception thereby having constitutional rights.
Human life begins at the zinc spark of conception thereby having constitutional rights.
Tonya Fletcher (Republican)
Support
I support Arkansas’s current abortion law, with an exception to save the life of a mother and I believe cases involving rape or incest of a minor child require special consideration and protection.
I support Arkansas’s current abortion law, with an exception to save the life of a mother and I believe cases involving rape or incest of a minor child require special consideration and protection.
2. Abortion: Establishing a permanent funding stream to provide state-funded grants to charities that provide women with alternatives to abortion.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Oppose
I vehemently support charities and orgs that provide alternatives to abortion. However, I don't support state funding for those orgs. I believe churches and other philanthropic orgs should support those efforts.
I vehemently support charities and orgs that provide alternatives to abortion. However, I don't support state funding for those orgs. I believe churches and other philanthropic orgs should support those efforts.
3. Education: The Arkansas LEARNS Act Educational Freedom Accounts that lets families use public dollars to pay for an education at a private school or homeschool.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Oppose
Though I do support school choice, I am opposed to using tax payer dollars to subsidize private schools.
Though I do support school choice, I am opposed to using tax payer dollars to subsidize private schools.
Tonya Fletcher (Republican)
Support
Arkansas parents know their kids best, and I trust them to make those choices.
Arkansas parents know their kids best, and I trust them to make those choices.
Curtis Varnell (Republican)
Oppose
Strong support of public schools. Private education is available but not funded by public funds
Strong support of public schools. Private education is available but not funded by public funds
4. Drugs: Legalizing recreational marijuana in Arkansas.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Support
Prohibition does not work. How much blood and treasure has been wasted in this over five-decade long war on drugs.
Prohibition does not work. How much blood and treasure has been wasted in this over five-decade long war on drugs.
5. Tech: Requiring major social media websites to verify all users’ ages in order to protect children on their platforms.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Oppose
I totally support the idea of warning pages being placed on websites containing adult material. The age requirement issue only places a burden on the website owner and the user. In most cases, the youth are far more experienced with technology than their parents and in some cases even more tech savy than the platform admins. This is a decision that is best made in the home. We should give up the idea of legislating morality.
I totally support the idea of warning pages being placed on websites containing adult material. The age requirement issue only places a burden on the website owner and the user. In most cases, the youth are far more experienced with technology than their parents and in some cases even more tech savy than the platform admins. This is a decision that is best made in the home. We should give up the idea of legislating morality.
6. Gambling: Letting casinos in Arkansas conduct gambling online.
7. Elections: Current ballot initiative efforts to change the Arkansas Constitution to make it easier for private individuals or entities to place measures on the ballot for a statewide vote.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Support
Article 5 of the Arkansas Constitution states that the first power is reserved by the People of Arkansas. Recent attacks on our right to direct democracy should be addressed both by ballot initiative, and by ensuring those legislators who voted to restrict this right are not re-elected.
Article 5 of the Arkansas Constitution states that the first power is reserved by the People of Arkansas. Recent attacks on our right to direct democracy should be addressed both by ballot initiative, and by ensuring those legislators who voted to restrict this right are not re-elected.
Curtis Varnell (Republican)
Support
The state law has changed recently making it to restrictive for the public to initiate change
The state law has changed recently making it to restrictive for the public to initiate change
8. Guns: Confiscation of firearms from citizens that the government deem a danger to themselves or others, otherwise known as red flag laws.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Oppose
Shall not be infringed. The power to restrict, regulate or infringe on the peoples ability of self defense was never given to the government.
Shall not be infringed. The power to restrict, regulate or infringe on the peoples ability of self defense was never given to the government.
Curtis Varnell (Republican)
Support
The state should have some control on gun possession if a person is deemed mentally incompetent or a danger to the public. The ability to restrict should require specific evidence of danger and approved by a judge, similar to a Warrant.
With judgmental approval only.
The state should have some control on gun possession if a person is deemed mentally incompetent or a danger to the public. The ability to restrict should require specific evidence of danger and approved by a judge, similar to a Warrant.
With judgmental approval only.
9. Marriage: The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
Brian Cooper (Republican)
Oppose
Marriage is a religious institution. The state should not be involved in marriage.
Marriage is a religious institution. The state should not be involved in marriage.