(Little Rock, KATV) - A petition drive by the organization Arkansans for Limited Government has ignited a fierce debate over women's reproductive health rights in the state. The group is collecting signatures for an amendment to Arkansas law that aims to provide women with more choices regarding their reproductive healthcare.

Volunteers from Arkansans for Limited Government (AFLG) have fanned out across the state this weekend, urging residents to sign petitions supporting the Arkansas Abortion Amendment. The proposed amendment seeks to prevent state government interference in personal healthcare decisions.

Under the current law, abortion in Arkansas is prohibited with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies, or the life and health of the mother. The proposed amendment would allow access to abortion up to 18 weeks and, after 18 weeks, with exceptions for those circumstances.

AFLG's Volunteer Field Coordinator, Katie Rhodes, emphasized the importance of giving women access to essential healthcare choices. "We believe that women need choices about this essential healthcare," Rhodes stated. AFLG has mobilized nearly 150 volunteers in over 60 counties throughout the state to gather signatures in support of the amendment.

However, not everyone supports the proposed amendment. Opponents, including the group Arkansas for Life and North Pulaski Republican Women, argue that the current law is saving lives and providing necessary health services to individuals who previously felt they had no options.

Representative Evelyn Vanpelt of Arkansas for Life stressed the need for the public to thoroughly understand the implications of the petition before signing. "You need to know what's being proposed and how it will affect you," Vanpelt urged. The group is actively engaged in raising awareness and educating the public about their concerns.

The signatures collected by AFLG will be submitted to the secretary of state on July 5th to initiate the validation process. The organization is striving to gather at least 91,000 signatures from 50 counties to qualify the amendment for the ballot. AFLG expresses confidence in exceeding this goal.

In response to the petition, the Arkansas Family Council released a statement strongly urging people to decline signing the amendment, labeling it an "extreme abortion amendment." The organization claims that the proposed amendment would eliminate common-sense abortion laws, such as the requirement for abortions to be performed by doctors in clinics, and even allow abortion until the moment of birth.

The Arkansas Abortion Amendment has become a contentious issue, with both sides of the debate passionately advocating for their respective positions. As the deadline for signature collection approaches, the question of women's reproductive health rights remains at the forefront of the state's public discourse.