Perhaps believing the third time is the charm, Personhood Colorado has announced it will once again seek to amend the Colorado constitution in order to define human life as beginning at the moment of conception. If passed by voters, the proposed amendment would ban all abortions except to save the life of the mother.
The amendment, as currently written, would specifically ban abortions in the cases of incest and rape.
Colorado voters have twice rejected such measures by large margins. Even Mississippi voters earlier this month shot down a similar bill.
Below is video of Monday’s announcement, including questions and answers after the announcement. The video was filmed by Ari Armstrong.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, always a strong voice for choice, issued the following statement after Personhood USA and Personhood Colorado announced their plans:
“I was deeply disappointed by the announcement today that anti-choice advocates are once again trying to get a “personhood” amendment question on Colorado’s 2012 ballot. Colorado voters have repeatedly said no to this proposal, knowing that it would ban some fertility treatments and many forms of FDA-approved birth control methods, including IUD’s and common birth control pills. It would also ban legal abortion in all cases, even for victims of rape or incest or when the woman’s life is in danger.
“This is an extreme and radical agenda. And those pushing this agenda seem to want to ignore that Coloradans have already voted down such an initiative twice. As does Mitt Romney, who recently committed to supporting a personhood amendment despite previous promises to the contrary. Though Romney once said, “let me make this very clear: I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose” and said that in his “heart of hearts” rape victims “should have the option of having emergency contraception,” he now supports taking away those rights and protections he recently “believed” in.
“I am confident Colorado voters will again say no to this proposal and to any politicians who support it.”
Colorado Democratic Party Chair Rick Palacio released this statement:
“Yet again, Republicans are pushing an extreme social agenda that Colorado voters have consistently and overwhelmingly rejected. Twice already, Coloradans have considered a so-called “personhood” amendment to the state constitution, and after learning about the dire consequences for women’s health, voters have said no by nearly 3 to 1 margins.
“Coloradans understand that abortion is a difficult subject, and an even more difficult decision for a woman to make. While people have a right to hold deeply personal feelings about the subject of choice, Coloradans agree that it’s a decision to be left to a woman based on her own conscience and faith. They find it completely unacceptable for an outside group to dictate decisions about birth control or about choice in cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother. This is why voters have overwhelmingly said no to these efforts in the past.
“Mitt Romney and his fellow Republican Presidential candidates should know by now that pandering to the extremists in their Tea Party base doesn’t appeal to the average Coloradan. And after the latest version of Romney said he “absolutely” supports the radical efforts of Personhood USA and other extreme groups, he will have a lot to explain to Colorado voters. Then again, we should probably expect yet another Romney flip-flop.”
