Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law Tuesday a bill that will ban abortions in the state in almost all circumstances.

The bill only allows abortions if they are needed to save the life of the person giving birth. They would not be permitted in any other situation, not even if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest.

Supporters of the bill also hope it will eventually lead to the Supreme Court revisiting Roe v. Wade.

We at The Daily Eastern News believe that this new law represents the opposite of progress.

Those who are pregnant should have access to abortions, not matter the reason. The passage of this law signifies that politicians consider their own values more important than the health and wellbeing of their constituents.

Passing the law during Women’s History Month may not be intentional gesture, but it certainly sends a message that the right for women to have control over their bodies is not considered important by the legislature in Arkansas.

Other states have proposed similar bills so far this year, representing an upsetting trend in politics that seeks to erase abortion rights everywhere.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas has vowed to fight the law in court if necessary. It is a law that should be challenged, and hopefully more states do not successfully pass similar bills.