Bob Marshall must be in his glory. After years of thwarted attempts, he has finally gotten his personhood bill out of committee and onto the floor of the General Assembly.
The bill comes to us as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ostensibly introduced as a means to punish fetal wrongful deaths such as in the Lacy Peterson case, nothing could be further from reality and the bill’s actual purpose. Marshall’s intent is to have the bill in place ready should Roe vs. Wade to be overturned. Should that happen, abortion of any kind would be illegal in Virginia. Many people say that will never happen. Don’t bet the ranch.
The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution clearly spells out personhood:
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This seems pretty clear to me and to other people possessing the ability to read.
Personhood to a couple wanting a child probably begins before the child is even conceived. This projection is emotional personhood. I remember when we decided it was time for the first little Moonhowler to be brought into the world. She had several names probably before she existed in a cellular state. That’s just how we are when we want children. Pregnancy sometimes comes when least expected and sometimes when it is very unwelcome. Sometimes pregnancies are troubled and there are problems with the fetus. Problems change the emotional playing field. These are the gray areas and times that cause a great emotional conflict to women always and often to the men in their lives. No legislation in the world really touches any of the above scenes, nor should it.
The inherent danger in a personhood bill is legally defining a zygote in the same terms as your five year old, your wife, or your husband. Zygotes are not sentient beings. Embryos are not people.
These are areas best left for theologians. HB 1 is fraught with flaws and danger. For starters, it will outlaw most hormonal forms of birth control (another extreme goal freely acknowledged by Bob Marshall.)
Bob Marshall needs to put his bill back in his pocket and go peddle his religious ideas elsewhere. As his constituent, I am tired of his religion being shoved down my throat.
MH, thank you for posting this topic.
I like Del. Marshall and I understand his heart is in the right place but I think that the law isn’t really well thought out.
https://secure2.convio.net/res/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=393
Is a link to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
HB 1, a Personhood bill, just passed the Virginia House of Delegates. As my Senator, I want you to know that I oppose this bill. Contrary to what you may have heard, this bill will negatively impact access to infertility treatments in Virginia such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Section 7 does not protect the practice of IVF in this state. Our state has some of the nation’s leading fertility clinics, physicians, and scientists working in this field of medicine. This bill will make the standard of care impossible to perform in Virginia.
I know very little about your subject, marin but it sounds like the bill is loaded with problems beyond the obvious.
I am surprised that the other legislators were stupid enough to go along with it. Their approval really indicates a pack mentality I thought not possible, even amongst politicians.
Marshall’s head is so far up his butt he can’t see.
Moon, thanks for the note over on AndyH’s blog. As you read, I see another aspect of it that just gets me laughing….that “other persons” line just opens a door. Thanks again!
[evil grin] 😈
You are a patient man, Ray
“his heart is in the right place” ? Really? So because YOU see how this would personally affect you it is reason to be against it. I thought you were pro choice Marinm.
His heart is in the right place? How about his head?
Marshall is obsessed over stopping contraception and birth control. He is very connected to American Life League who also wants to outlaw contraception.
http://www.all.org/
Check out Why you can’t be pro-life and Pro-contraception.
http://www.cfmpl.org/blog/2012/02/03/pro-life-pro-contraception/
I have always been told that Marshall and his wife formed American Life League at Judie Brown’s kitchen table in Stafford.
We aren’t making this crap up.
The concept of contraception is not a new idea. It was very much around during my grandmother’s time. She would be 122 if alive today. She only made it to 105.
I’m out of place for 2 reasons, 1)I don’t live in Virginia and 2) I’m not a woman. That being said I do have an opinion. This is more of State Government Over-reach. I’m OK with anyone being pro choice or pro life but when the State tells you what you have to be is wrong. If Virginia wants this it should be because of voter results not some group of politicians deciding for you. Can’t you follow some of Wisconsin’s people and demand a vote on these new laws?
Bear, you are not out of place. This blog is not just for Virginians. Plus, you are my friend, therefore a most welcome person. You also don’t have to be a woman. (if you say the right thing :roll:)
I don’t know what is going to happen if these two bills go all the way through and the governor signs them. He might not simply because he wants to be on the presidential ticket with Mitt Romney. It would be hard to overcome being the anti-contraception Vice President.
There are a lot of men making a lot of decisions that only affect women, aren’t there?
You are incorrect. It doesn’t impact me because I’ve already had my kids and don’t anticipate having to use fertility services again. But, I want it to be an option for future Virginian couples – strike that – for future Virginians.
I also don’t think an abortion or anti-abortion angle will work at fighting this – especially in the Senate. The ideological lines for that are pretty much set in stone.
The tactical move would be to take an angle like this – that the law would ban fertility clinics – and use that as leverage to fix or bury the legislation in the Senate. Only takes 1 republican to flip because he’ll see the fertility portion as a pro-life measure.
There is *always* a method to my madness. 👿
@marin, I think you do make good sense there. That’s the only way to pentrate the mind sets.
I agree with your strategy marinm, but question the premise that BM is doing this from the right place in his heart. Most people who are religous zealots believe they have their god on their side, but usually what that means is they don’t care whose rights they trample or who they hurt because they are doing gods work. No, Bob scares BECAUSE he believes he has his god on his side.
Moon,
How else to keep women in their place if you don’t control their reproduction?
@Elena, it has worked since man and woman first walked the earth. Think Clan of the Cave Bear.
A chain in the kitchen works for me. 🙂
I am going to tattle on you to your wife marinm!
@marinm
A good backhand will also work.