Coming Soon: Personhood for Frozen Embryos

In 2008, a Colorado ballot initiative (Amendment 48) to give personhood to any fertilized human egg was defeated by voters 3 to 1. In 2009, it’s back, and subtler than ever.

Why is it back? Can’t they take no for an answer? Supporters claim it was voted down because people visualized chicken eggs.

The deceptively simple language of Proposition #25 hides dangerous intent. It will amend the Colorado state Constitution as follows:

. . . the term “person” shall apply to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.

That doesn’t sound bad. What’s wrong with that?

Let’s consider who, by this proposal, is treated as a “person” with legal right to due process under the law:

• A fertilized egg, from the instant of conception
• A frozen embryo at an In-Vitro Fertilization clinic

So, what does this mean? What’s the result?

• Intra-Uterine Devices (IUDs) illegal! They function by preventing an embryo from attaching to the uterus. Homicide!
• Emergency “morning after” contraception (RU486) illegal! Even in cases of rape or incest. Homicide!
• Oral contraceptives illegal! The “Pill“, a combination of estrogen and progesterone, works in part by impacts to the lining of the uterus, making implantation more difficult. Homicide!
• Disposing of excess frozen embryos at IVF clinics illegal! Mass homicide!
• Abortion under any circumstances, even in the case of saving the mother’s life, illegal! Both doctor and patient would be guilty of homicide!

Anti-birth-control advocates are gearing up to begin gathering signatures to put Proposition #25 on the ballot in Colorado. Are you ready?

Related articles:

1. Embryos Could Be People Too: Personhood Colorado, Mississippi Qualify Ballot Measures
2. Second Coming of Jesus accidentally targeted by US Air Force
3. New Look Coming Soon
4. American Humanist Association Decries Stem Cell Research Ruling
5. Polls – Sonia Sotomayor, Bigot? and New Racism vs. Old Racism

Mike Daniels is co-editor of Secular News Daily.

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