USA

Federal and State efforts signal growing grassroots commitment for Personhood

DENVER, Feb. 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- Personhood USA is pleased to announce that since the beginning of the new year, Seven different States have started efforts for the personhood of pre-born children. In addition, Rep. Duncan Hunter has introduced H.R. 881, the Right to Life Act , on the federal level, propelling the personhood movement forward.

Five States have now introduced bills affirming the personhood rights of pre-born humans from the moment of fertilization including:
Maryland / HB925 Delegate Don Dwyer
North Dakota / H.R. 1572 Rep. Dan Ruby
Montana / SB 406 Sen. Daniel W McGee
South Carolina / H.3526 Rep. Liston Barfield
Alabama / SB-335 Sen. Hank Erwin

Oregon has begun a personhood amendment petition drive, and Mississippi's personhood amendment petition drive is expected to launch within weeks.

The common thread among all of these efforts is the goal to fill what is becoming known as the "Blackmun Hole" in Roe v. Wade. This is where Justice Blackmun implied in the Roe v. Wade decision that if the case were established that the pre-born was a person, the argument for abortion collapses. In Roe v Wade, it is acknowledged that the "fetus" is fully human, but did not grant the rights of "persons" until birth.

"Personhood USA is standing with strong support for all of these efforts. We are committed to working tirelessly to establish personhood in every State, because this is the only way to restore dignity to the humans most vulnerable among us," stated Cal Zastrow of Personhood USA.

"Personhood efforts raise the standard of what it is to be pro-life. We expect that as the understanding that all humans are people spreads, the injustice of abortion will end," continued Keith Mason of Personhood USA.

Dear Friends,
Personhood USA is standing in support of the the Personhood Amendment being introduced by Delegate Don H. Dwyer, Jr in Maryland. I ask you to stand in prayerful support of Mr. Dwyer and this Personhood Amendment. Below is a press release sent out about this new effort.
Keith Mason

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Delegate Don Dwyer 410-841-3298 Office / 410-419-3870 Cell
[email protected]
MARYLAND LAWMAKER TO INTRODUCE PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
The Personhood movement is catching fire as Maryland joins 15 other states across the country working toward the legal recognition of all human beings as "persons" under the law.
Delegate Don H. Dwyer, Jr. will introduce a Personhood Amendment this coming week in the Maryland General Assembly. The amendment recognizes all human beings from their biological beginning as "persons."
"The personhood movement marks a monumental shift in pro-life legislation of the past 20 years," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "It strikes at the root of the culture of death and discusses life issues in their true context – as the foundation of all civil rights issues."
"Here we are some 36 years after Roe v. Wade, (the Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion), and we now have 3-D and 4-D color sonograms that give us a real-time look into the womb," Del. Dwyer said. "There is no doubt today that there is a human being in the womb and that human being should be considered a person."
Colorado became the first state last fall to allow its citizens to vote on a Personhood Amendment ballot initiative.
"I believe that as we approach nearly 40 years since the court ruled on Roe v. Wade, we must once again open the public debate to review when each human being's life begins," Del. Dwyer said.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- Three different American pro-life organizations are sending missionaries to the Dominican Republic to stop the threat of legalized abortion.

The Dominican Republic, currently abortion-free, is under siege by pro-choice groups to de-criminalize abortion. A group of young pro-life missionaries are traveling to the Dominican Republic during the memorial of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision.

President Fernández has introduced a new Constitution for the Dominican Republic which has an Amendment to protect all human life from conception, which has raised the level of discussion and interest over abortion.

On January 22, the memorial of the United States' Roe V Wade Decision, the Dominican Republic's Legislative Committee assigned to oversee the new Constitution will meet to discuss this new Constitution and to potentially approve it.

DENVER, Nov. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- The first campaign to affirm the personhood of pre-born children in US history has now come to an end, but supporters and organizers are looking to spread grassroots personhood amendments to several other States.

The Colorado Personhood Amendment was defeated at the ballot box but organizers knew the victory had already been had in pioneering the State by State Personhood effort.

"We may not have captured the majority of the votes, but we have caused over half a million people to think and act pro-life by boldly addressing the core of the issue," said Danielle Jock, Volunteer for Amendment 48

A new pro-life organization, Personhood USA, plans to assist local pro-life groups in different states to put personhood amendments on their states ballot by using the petition process.