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NORTH Dakota has become the first US state to move towards passing a law that defines "personhood" as starting at the moment of conception, which would effectively outlaw abortion, pro-life groups said.
Lawmakers in the North Dakota lower house voted 51 to 41 on Tuesday to pass the Personhood of Children Act, which confers the same basic rights on "all human beings from the beginning of their biological development, including the pre-born, partially born."
Originally posted by tezzajw
I've got no real convictions in the pro/anti abortion debate. I'd prefer to stay out of someone else's life and let them decide.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
In deciding Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that a Texas statute forbidding abortion except when necessary to save the life of the woman was unconstitutional. The Court arrived at its decision by concluding that the issue of abortion and abortion rights falls under the right to privacy.
Originally posted by Existent
I say that it shouldn't be up to one woman whether or not the child lives or dies.
Originally posted by tezzajw
The mother is the only person keeping the baby alive. Who else but the mother, should have a say in if the baby lives or dies?
Originally posted by Existent
And yes, a 51-41 vote is downright ridiculous.
My major point, though, was on the legality of the vote itself.
Originally posted by Existent
but I don't think anyone should be able to decide to end a life.
Originally posted by Luciferdescending
Thank god. The way all the orphanages are just crying to be more overcrowded makes me cry. There are barely enough unwanted and mistreated children in the world. This will guarantee that number grows at an amazing rate. I know I would far rather watch then be born, live a crappy life, turn into crappy adults, be little more than a detriment to society and then be buried on my dime a sinner than to have them get a free ticket to heaven for having been aborted.
Originally posted by Existent
Amaterasu, a good argument for religious people, but many people (including myself) aren't religious, or aren't religious enough to consider that argument valid (I'm not bashing anyone's religious beliefs, just stating mine).
It is cruel to force a child to first breath, then abandon it, just as it is cruel to abort a fetus that may have become the next Winston Churchill or Thomas Jefferson.
And maybe that child was going to grow up to become an axe murderer.
We can't judge by someone's possible future actions, only by their potential.
Man was created equal. Is it not counter to our beliefs to prevent someone from fulfilling their potential?
When does the mother's pursuit of happiness override the child's right to life?
Obviously not every abortion is about that, but we American's tend to have difficulty drawing the line.
Here is the main fallacy that anti-choice people bring up. The facts support the idea that sociopaths and psychopaths virtually always come from twisted families with little to no love, with neglect and psychological, physical and sexual abuse. The more love (especially!) that an individual receives, the more likely they are to contribute positively to society.
Far more likely than a Mother Teresa...
On top of that, how can you say that the fetus is anything? Many are born dead, in fact, so the mere state of fetushood says nothing. In other words, a fetus is not yet a "someone" of whom we could prevent potential. (Unless we state the potential is to become a human upon birth...)
Lawmakers in the North Dakota lower house voted 51 to 41 on Tuesday to pass the Personhood of Children Act, which confers the same basic rights on "all human beings from the beginning of their biological development, including the pre-born, partially born."
...
Personhood laws are crafted to challenge Roe v Wade and return the decision-making process on whether or not abortion is legal to the states, Brian Rooney of the Thomas More Law Centre said.
"The purpose of these laws is to challenge Roe v Wade. Once Roe v Wade is overturned, it doesn't mean abortion is illegal in all 50 states but it says that the states decide what to do with abortion,'' Mr Rooney said.