A proposed Colorado constitutional amendment would define a fertilized human egg as a person. The Egg-As-Person amendment is set for a vote for November — a ballot initiative that could drive religious voters to the polls to the advantage of John McCain.
The proposed amendment received estimated 103,000 valid signatures — it only required 76,000.
Backer Kristi Burton of Colorado for Equal Rights insists that “Science is on our side.”
The ballot language reads as follows:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Article II of the constitution of the state of Colorado is
amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:Section 31. Person defined. As used in sections 3, 6, and 25 of
Article II of the state constitution, the terms “person” or “persons”
shall include any human being from the moment of fertilization.
If adopted, the measure could have obvious problems for stem cell research and other forms of research. (For full disclosure, I support stem cell research, click here and here). Moreover, it would create some interesting issues in the criminal law. States already prosecute the death of an unborn child as a separate murder count in cases where a pregnant women is killed or harmed. The amendment would suggest that the destruction of a fertilized egg with intent could be murder. It would obviously also raise serious constitutional questions as the new definition of a person collides with the right to choose in the courts.
For the full story, click here.
‘… The irony here is priceless.’
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Thanks, mespo. Sorry I missed Miss CSU has ROCKS in her head…
http://www.womens-health.co.uk/cxinc.asp
Check out your liklihood of experiencing cervical incompetence after three or more D&C’s, if and when, you ever do wish to have a child.
You may not be able to carry a pregnancy to term on your own, now, without medical intervention.
Congratulations.
And if you are having unprotected sex with multiple partners, especially if they are uncircumcised and promiscuous,like yourself, your chances of having a cone biopsy for cervical pre-cancer or cancer go up incrementally and add to the overall grim equation.
And remember, all of these concerns are secondary to not only antibiotic-resistant but incurable STD’s like AIDS, hepatitis, and herpes.
Wise up!
The Colorado Constitution would now have to be interpreted:
Section 3. Inalienable rights. All fertilized eggs have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; of acquiring, possessing and protecting property; and of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.
Section 6. Equality of justice. Courts of justice shall be open to every fertilized egg, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury to fertilized egg, property or character; and right and justice should be administered without sale, denial or delay.
Section 25. Due process of law. No fertilized egg shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.
The problem here, legally, is that they are picking and choosing which Sections of the Constitution apply to the newly expanded “person” definition. It appears throughout the constitution, but they are only trying to apply it to those specific Sections. I think this is where they will run into any trouble if it passes, ie. you cannot define a person a la carte.
Of course, this also means any minor could now sue and enter into contracts and purchase property.