Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is calling on Congress to take action to prevent the shipment of abortion pills to states where abortion is illegal. Griffin, leading a multistate initiative, is pushing for legislation that would block “shield laws” in pro-abortion states from enabling the shipment of abortion pills, such as mifepristone, to states like Arkansas, where abortion has been banned.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 by the Supreme Court, abortion laws have shifted dramatically across the United States. In Arkansas, abortion became illegal except in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. Griffin has made it clear that the state has faced significant challenges with the illegal distribution of abortion pills, which are taken to induce chemical abortions. “The law is very clear on this issue, and regardless of how one feels about the law, it is vital that the law be upheld,” Griffin said in a statement. He emphasized the importance of respecting state-level decisions on abortion legality following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, which returned the authority to regulate abortion to individual states.
As part of his efforts, Griffin led a letter signed by a coalition of states urging Congress to pass legislation addressing the issue. “Shield laws” in states like California and New York are preventing Arkansas from prosecuting abortion pill providers who ship the drugs into the state. Griffin’s letter, supported by officials from Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming, calls for stronger federal safeguards to prevent the shipment of abortion-inducing drugs across state lines.
In addition to rallying Congress, Griffin has also taken direct legal action. He sent two cease-and-desist letters to entities that have been shipping abortion pills into Arkansas, further emphasizing the need for enforcement against those flouting state laws. Furthermore, he targeted organizations that support websites promoting the sale and distribution of abortion pills, sending another two cease-and-desist notices.
Griffin’s call to Congress comes amid a growing debate over the accessibility of abortion medication, a key issue in the ongoing national conversation on reproductive rights. While some states continue to move toward greater access to abortion services, others like Arkansas have passed stringent restrictions. For states with abortion bans in place, the ability to prevent the flow of abortion pills across state lines has become a critical concern, and Griffin’s efforts reflect the high stakes involved in the battle over reproductive laws.
With the legal landscape around abortion continuing to evolve, Griffin’s push for federal action highlights the tension between states’ rights to regulate abortion and efforts to ensure compliance with local laws. Whether Congress will take up the issue remains to be seen, but for now, Arkansas is standing firm in its efforts to protect its abortion restrictions.
