Brian Atwood, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said if passed the amendment could "severely limit women's access to birth control, in vitro fertilisation and life-saving medical procedures."
Parenthood USA aims eventually to amend the US constitution, effectively outlawing abortion across the country almost 40 years after it was guaranteed by the landmark Roe vs Wade Supreme Court verdict.
The group claims that the medical understanding of maternity when the decision was made in 1973 was "a far cry from what is known today" because ultrasound and DNA testing were not yet in use.
It is seeking to exploit the verdict's so-called "Blackmun Hole", supposedly opened when Justice Harry Blackmun, who wrote the verdict, said a foetus's right to life would be guaranteed if its "personhood" were established.
Women's rights groups reject that any of this alters a woman's right to an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees privacy.
They also say that the amendment would see a ban on the contraceptive pill, because it prevents fertilised eggs being implanted in the womb, and also outlaw contraception for rape victims.
Tara Broderick, the head of Planned Parenthood in Ohio, said the planned measure was "dangerous and deceptive."
"If it passes, it changes the state constitution and puts the government smack in the middle of personal, private medical decisions between women and their doctors," she said.
And here's the absolute best part of this movement:
Personhood USA, which claims to "serve Jesus by being an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves", is aiming to hold a dozen such referendums across the country on election day 2012.
Now let's imagine it's November 2012, at least one of these personhood referendums pass, and President Perry is waiting in the White House to make sure SCOTUS gets this "momentous" decision right.
Still think saying home in 2012 is a good idea?
No comments:
Post a Comment