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You must be kidding: Amendment 48
Contributed by: Bette Erickson on 10/9/2008

As my girlfriend and I made the final, steep ascent over the boulders to the summit of Bear Peak she turned to me and asked, "So when I eat a plate of scrambled eggs, am I technically eating a chicken?"

"Right," we both laughed, enjoying the panoramic views spread out in front of us.

We were, of course, talking about the ridiculous Amendment 48 on November's ballot seeking to grant "personhood" to a zygote. The amendment defines person to include any human being from the moment of fertilization.

Yes. That's right: Equal protection under the law for an embryo.

Like my hiking friend, I consider myself pro-life and pro-choice. But this proposed amendment is too over-the-top. If passed we stand to see birth control pills and IUDs, for example, outlawed because they can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. This "Personhood Amendment" as it is called, is a spectacular act of complicity designed to confuse and muddle so many issues. The unintended consequences of this hasty and ill-thought proposal are staggering.

If this amendment is approved, it would apply the definition of "person" to sections of the Colorado constitution regarding equality of justice, due process of law and inalienable rights to a fetus. Fertilization will be the new starting point of equal rights and privileges for everyone from the unborn to senior citizens. This arcane amendment would ultimately end up costing taxpayers thousands of dollars, clogging up courts, impacting laws ranging from when property and inheritance rights are recognized to birth control and health care.

Think about it.

In anticipation of possible approval of this measure, consider the deep effects that would hamper in-vitro fertilization, stem cell research and effectively ban birth control. Imagine being a rape victim and being denied access to emergency, day-after contraceptives.

Kristi Burton, the home-schooled 20-year old sponsor of the amendment, practices playing word games with women's health. She founded what she calls Colorado for Equal Rights, and created the first constitutional amendment of its kind in the country and succeeded in gathering enough signatures to get it on the November ballot. And she deserves credit. But I know Colorado voters are much brighter than she suspects and clearly will not support this.

Amendment 48 is wrong not only because it is too extreme. Its basic premise that fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses are human persons deserving all of the legal rights and moral standing as an infant is wrong. Even my most conservative colleagues see the trouble with that premise. And the Colorado Bar Association, along with the Colorado Medical Society say Amendment 48 would create a legal nightmare.

So on our way back down the mountain, my friend turned to me and asked another question. "If Amendment 48 passes, how many passports does a pregnant woman carry when she travels?"

Hmmmmm. We laughed again. "Maybe three if she's carrying twins."

Bette Erickson is a Broomfield City Councilwoman, county commissioner and author of "Best Boulder Region Hiking Trails" (Westcliffe Publishers, $19.95). Contact her at bette_erickson@hotmail.com.


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Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Doug Wray
posted on 10/9/2008 @ 9:44:35 PM
Rated Story
Excellent article! I'm glad to read a reasoned opposition piece to this amendment. I agree, it's FAR too extreme - like the people backing it!
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Bette Erickson

Broomfield , CO

Bette Erickson has posted 25 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/21/2005. Bette Erickson 's average story rating is 5.
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