Mississippi Personhood Amendment: Addendum
I know my post on the Mississippi Personhood Amendment has been making the rounds. This is good. For the past week, I've been fighting the inclination to post on it again as I'm generally reluctant to wade into this particular topic. But I've seen some common questions/concerns come up so often that I'm just gonna take the plunge.
How will this amendment criminalize miscarriages?
The text for the amendment reads:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hereby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, "The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof." This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.
If the state legally recognizes a fertilized egg as a person, then it's obligated to investigate any loss of life. Miscarriages - referred to medically as "spontaneous abortions" - result in the loss of a fertilized egg, which would be a person.
I just don't think that the state is going to charge women for miscarriages.
Women already have been charged for miscarriages.
In South Carolina, feticide laws that were enacted to protect pregnant women from assaults by their partners have been used to charge 300 women for their miscarriages. One man has been charged under the law.
Currently, 38 states have such fetal homicide laws.
How will birth control be outlawed?
The pill - the most common form of contraceptive - has the primary mechanism of inhibiting ovulation. It also has a secondary mechanism in some pills that involves thinning the lining of the uterus which prevents fertilized eggs from attaching. As personhood would be defined from the moment of fertilization, this would mean the ejection - and death - of a legal person.
We shouldn't worry about this because it'll just go to the courts and get overturned thanks to Roe v. Wade.
Yes, the goal is undoubtedly to challenge Roe v. Wade. I don't find that a desirable outcome, especially when it can be shown that the majority are in favor of it.
I don't have a problem with the women being charged in the articles you linked to. And some birth control should be outlawed.
Okay, then. I'm not writing a persuasive outline. Go somewhere else.
...abortion...
I don't debate about abortion. Go away.
Can you add *insert link here* to the original post?
Honestly, no. I'm not compiling links for this. The Facebook page for Wake Up, Mississippi is the best place to get up-to-date info.
Where do I make a donation?
At the Wake Up, Mississippi website.
Is there a petition?
Yes.
I'm not sure that it's necessary, but I'll include a repost button in case y'all wanna pass it on.
How will this amendment criminalize miscarriages?
The text for the amendment reads:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hereby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, "The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof." This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.
If the state legally recognizes a fertilized egg as a person, then it's obligated to investigate any loss of life. Miscarriages - referred to medically as "spontaneous abortions" - result in the loss of a fertilized egg, which would be a person.
I just don't think that the state is going to charge women for miscarriages.
Women already have been charged for miscarriages.
In South Carolina, feticide laws that were enacted to protect pregnant women from assaults by their partners have been used to charge 300 women for their miscarriages. One man has been charged under the law.
Currently, 38 states have such fetal homicide laws.
How will birth control be outlawed?
The pill - the most common form of contraceptive - has the primary mechanism of inhibiting ovulation. It also has a secondary mechanism in some pills that involves thinning the lining of the uterus which prevents fertilized eggs from attaching. As personhood would be defined from the moment of fertilization, this would mean the ejection - and death - of a legal person.
We shouldn't worry about this because it'll just go to the courts and get overturned thanks to Roe v. Wade.
Yes, the goal is undoubtedly to challenge Roe v. Wade. I don't find that a desirable outcome, especially when it can be shown that the majority are in favor of it.
I don't have a problem with the women being charged in the articles you linked to. And some birth control should be outlawed.
Okay, then. I'm not writing a persuasive outline. Go somewhere else.
...abortion...
I don't debate about abortion. Go away.
Can you add *insert link here* to the original post?
Honestly, no. I'm not compiling links for this. The Facebook page for Wake Up, Mississippi is the best place to get up-to-date info.
Where do I make a donation?
At the Wake Up, Mississippi website.
Is there a petition?
Yes.
I'm not sure that it's necessary, but I'll include a repost button in case y'all wanna pass it on.