Constitution and the Ohio Bill of Rights, such as the right to free speech and the right to trial by jury.įundamental rights require a high degree of protection from government encroachment. The abortion amendment declares “reproductive freedom” to be a “fundamental right.” But voters are not informed of the meaning and import of “fundamental rights,” which have traditionally included rights reflected in the U.S. The vague language could be interpreted by Ohio courts to encompass other medical procedures that have a nexus to reproductive anatomy, such as the removal of healthy reproductive organs and the provision of cross-sex hormones and other harmful chemicals that alter the normal functioning of the male or female body as part of so-called “gender identity transitions.” So Ohio taxpayers could be forced to pay for not only IVF treatments, but even a “paid surrogate” to allow two men to have a child. And these procedures would likely come at state taxpayer expense because the state cannot “burden” an individual’s voluntary exercise of this right. The amendment simply refers to a wide-ranging laundry list of examples of what “reproductive freedom” encompasses: “decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.” The terms used to describe “reproductive freedom” are also not defined, leaving voters to guess what they mean.įor instance, the right to “fertility treatment” is not defined and will apply to any “individual” (minors, non-residents, those beyond normal child-bearing age, men, same-sex couples). The abortion amendment centers on the term “reproductive freedom,” which is not adequately defined. Ohio voters deserve to know exactly what they are voting on-especially when asked to amend the state’s constitution. ‘Reproductive freedom’: dangerously and intentionally vague Rather than protecting women’s health and safety, the amendment endangers both women and girls. The use of “Protections for Health and Safety” in the title is also misleading. It does not fairly represent the breadth and scope of the radical changes that the abortion amendment intends. The term “reproductive freedom” is inadequately defined and intentionally vague. The concerns with the abortion amendment begin with the title. The abortion amendment victimizes women and girls rather than protecting and empowering them. And since minors in Ohio would be able to get “no questions asked” abortions, the state could become a destination for sex traffickers. A girl who was raped could be brought to an abortion facility, undergo an abortion without parental consent, and be returned to her abuser. If the amendment were adopted, sex offenders and traffickers would be more empowered to coerce their victims into having abortions. Taxpayers could be compelled to fund these services and products even for non-residents. It would force Ohio taxpayers to pay for abortions, contraception, fertility treatments, and even the surgical removal of healthy reproductive organs. It would also threaten the conscience rights of Ohio’s health-care professionals and would preclude the enactment and enforcement of commonsense protective laws. The language of the amendment is dangerously vague and would compromise parental rights and endanger minors and crime victims. A closer look reveals the abortion amendment goes far beyond codifying that mistaken and now-defunct decision. The proposed language seeks to amend Article I of the Ohio Constitution by adding Section 22, entitled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety.”Ībortion proponents claim the ballot measure is merely a response to the U.S. This ballot measure, however, is literally a matter of life and death for the next generation of Ohioans and the safety of women and girls living in Ohio right now.Ībortion activists recently introduced a proposed amendment that would enshrine abortion in the state’s constitution. Voters may be accustomed to hearing that the next election is the most important of their lifetime from politicians and activists all across the ideological spectrum. This November, voters in Ohio will have the opportunity to vote on an amendment to the state’s constitution that would enshrine abortion as a fundamental right in that document.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |