We carried a piece in our recent newsletter about efforts by the feminist movement to revive the Equal Rights Amendment. Some of our folks were a bit incredulous. After all, many have even forgotten about this ill-advised attempt to reengineer society.

The Equal Rights Amendment, submitted to the states back in 1972, was officially declared dead by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1982 after it failed to get approval by 38 states in the time established by Congress.

But, believe it or not – leaders of the movement are determined to resume efforts on securing three more states’ ratification. Having become quite accustomed to special treatment from the federal courts on matters like abortion – they are betting that they can call the Supreme Court’s bluff.

And just this week, they brought forth a vote in the Arkansas House on the ERA. At first, it seemed like a forgone conclusion. Feminists announced earlier this year that they had some 66 co-sponsors of the ratifying language. I guess denial was finally overcome as conservatives swung into action.

Pro-Life leaders began working legislators in Arkansas. They needed to know that ERA language adopted in state constitutions have already been used as potent weapons to destroy the minimal restrictions on abortion won through the legislatures. For example, the New Mexico state ERA was used by state courts there to obliterate restrictions on public funding of abortions. A similar phenomenon occurred in Connecticut.

Fortunately for America – an Arkansas House committee voted down the ratification resolution after 20 of those original sponsors learned more about its ramifications.

We need to watch this whole plot more closely. And give thanks for those family champions who met the threat in Arkansas.