Yesterday, the Washington Times ran an article (here) that garnered very little attention from our little corner of the blogosphere. Given the topic of the article, I thought that rather surprising. I suppose that people are just tired of talking about abortion. However, this amendment to constitution of Colorado could have considerable significance.
Colorado for Equal Rights is promoting the following ballot initiative.
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.
What are the implications of this change? The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision had wide-encompassing and perhaps unintended consequences. Would this amendment have similar effects in the opposite direction? Currently, government is almost totally unable to regulate abortion (here).
Law is an awkward, bludgeoning instrument; abortion law even more so. With the exception of partial birth abortions, abortions are legal, and that is it. Would this change define an abortion as simple murder? How would we deal with that situation? How would prosecutors, judges and juries respond? I expect the uncertainty will scare the average voter — unlike the judges who authored Roe v. Wade.
Such queasy feelings have apparently persuaded the National Right to Life Committee to stay out of Colorado’s fight over the unborn person amendment. Since the NRLC believes life begins long before birth (here), I find that a bit ironic. Every day the lives of numerous unborn babies are aborted, but the NRLC believes in a more cautious, incremental approach to winning the abortion war.
So it is I wish Colorado for Equal Rights well in its endeavor. While the NRLC’s incrementalism may score more political victories, its actions do not address or answer the fundamental question. Colorado for Equal Rights, on the other hand, has put its finger squarely on the issue. When does life begin? When should we be willing to take action to defend the unborn?
