Dems shying away from radical Mississippi 'Personhood' debate

[karadinart]

Mississippians are set to vote on a ballot measure this November that would redefine the word "person" in the state constitution to include undeveloped embryos. Members of the medical and legal communities have raised concerns that the amendment could have unforeseen, far-reaching implications for women's health, such as banning certain kinds of birth control, in vitro fertilization and stem cell research.

But state Democrats have been cautious of publicly opposing or even questioning the amendment for fear of alienating Mississippi's pro-life majority.

In defining a legal human being from the moment of fertilization, Initiative 26, often called the "Personhood Amendment," would criminalize abortion in Mississippi, with no exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother. Personhood USA, the advocacy group pushing the amendment, and the Yes on 26 campaign are painting the issue as a black-and-white abortion ban.

(think it doesn't matter cos it's Mississippi? Personhood petitions are being promoted in every state, according to Personhood USA website)

link to full story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/mississippi-abortion-personhood_n_976872.html

Comments

[mercurella.livejournal.com]

That is scary as shit because what happens if a mother is pregnant but unaware and does something unknowingly to cause the foetus to abort or even worst is ACCUSED of doing something that caused the miscarraige? Does that make it murder? As you know I am generally anti-abortion, pro birth control, morning after pill etc but know that exceptional cases occur where it's unwise to completely ban abortion. Making the issue so absolutely definitive is stupid because life isn't that way. I'm sure many many women and qualified experienced medical staff were involved in the design of this proposed "law" NOT.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

Exactly, it gives no leeway for personal experience, and why does the life of the fetus (if it cannot live outside the womb) trump the life of the mother? Doctors would be afraid to save the mother for fear of being jailed.

[margi-lynn.livejournal.com]

Actually what's currently happening in Mississippi and Alabama is two women who didn't yet know they were pregnant had spontaneous miscarriages and both of them on are trial.

It has nothing to do with abortion - this law is making pregnancy illegal. And I know there is a man trying to get money out of a lawsuit because his daughter was pregnant (like 3 months or so) when a drunk driver crashed into them. So if the law passes and he wins, pregnant women can say goodbye to driving, maybe even being a passenger in a car.

We have to think about the social and legal implications too.

[mercurella.livejournal.com]

That is what is missing from the whole equation simple THINKING, it's all simply "protect the potential life at all costs" (that has a 25% chance of NATURAL failure anyhow) and everything else has to fit around that sentiment. It's impossible to do except with absolute totalitarianism, oh yes that's their manifesto by the sounds of it.

[margi-lynn.livejournal.com]

That's what is so scary - that because the way MS already is run, the only thing this law will do is make pregnant women second class citizens who will have to stay in bed until their child/ren are out.

It has nothing to do with abortion here - we don't even have abortion clinics. There is one in the capitol and they only cater to the extremely wealthy. It just means our healthcare system will be even worse than it already is. :(

[margi-lynn.livejournal.com]

It kinda pisses me off that it took this long for the media to pick this up. I've been making a big deal about it since they first showed up picketing about six months ago.

Then news coverage could have kept it off the ballot entirely because Mississippians have to vote to first put referendums on the ballot and then vote again to actually pass a ref.

The good thing is driving around there doesn't actually seem to be much interest in it - there are hardly any signs at all, and Mississippians are politically vocal people.

[archea2.livejournal.com]

Oh god. Yes, that's scary indeed.

[tanfouk.livejournal.com]

I feel kinda dirty for saying this, but maybe the best thing would be for a state to enact such a law and see what the actual consequences are. A "brain drain," for starters.

Look at what's happening in Alabama: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/228331/20111010/alabama-immigration-law-cuts-off-water-supply-to-immigrants.htm?cid=2
It looks like if you are an out-of-state landlord, military living off base, etc., you will be affected by this law.