Mississippi Set to Vote on Personhood Amendment
Mississippi is set for an important vote on Tuesday to challenge abortion laws nationwide and change the definition of a “person” to include newly fertilized embryos.
Planned Parenthood United States of America said several states expect to see proposed changes to their constitution, which is an indirect way of challenging abortion laws in the country. Should the referendums pass, it would open the door for abortion persecution cases to reach as far as the United States Supreme Court.
Opponents of the bill are saying that if the personhood amendment becomes law, it would place doctors who have been performing legal abortions until now in danger of being charged with wrongful death or even murder.
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Other potential repercussions may include making contraceptive pills illegal and putting in danger any method threatening the existence of a newly fertilized embryo. The bill may also extend to include freezing embryos used for couples unable to conceive through natural means.
However, supporters of the bill are accusing Planned Parenthood of overreacting and using “scare tactics” to try to urge voters to say “no” to the bill, when the amendment would not have such far-reaching consequences.
While they have admitted that the main goal of the change in definition of “personhood” is to make abortions harder and protect “persons” at the earliest stage of development, they have denied the bill would outlaw birth control pills or in-vitro fertilization.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said he supports the bill, and most state lawmakers are ready to pass it when it goes up for vote on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
Previously at an appearance on MSNBC, Barbour said he believes life begins at conception, and the current personhood bill statement that “life begins at fertilization” was too vague. Still, he revealed he voted for it by absentee ballot.
Should the amendment be approved by the state, it still faces a fight to pass through the federal court, which has proved a stiff challenge for antiabortion bills in recent times.
