Most Alabama lawmakers favor state constitutional amendment saying life begins at conception

[Doondoo]

Most Alabama lawmakers responding to an Associated Press survey say they would support a proposed constitutional amendment declaring that life begins at conception -- a measure some see as a first step toward banning abortions in Alabama.

During last year's election campaigns, Democrats and Republicans listed passage of the amendment as a priority, but with the start of the 2007 regular session a little more than a week away, no lawmaker has announced plans to introduce the measure. In the AP survey, 62 percent of House members responding and 58 percent of senators said they would support the amendment, which would also have to be approved by voters.

State Sen. Hank Erwin, R- Montevallo, said he is planning to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban abortions in Alabama, except to save the life of the mother. The ban would be similar to a proposed amendment banning abortions that passed the Legislature in South Dakota last year, but was defeated by voters. Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, has prepared a bill that would ban abortion, except to save the life or prevent serious harm to the mother or in cases of rape or incest.

Erwin said he also may introduce the amendment defining life as beginning at conception, which he believes could lead to a ban on abortions.

"It would be a first step. When you define life as beginning at conception you are forced to look at all the applications of that concept and you have to deal with the issue of abortion," Erwin said.


http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS02/702240335/1009

[jody]

1. Here in Alabama, the topic is widely discussed. Interesting point is that either a fetus is alive or

it's dead.

If life is defined as when an organism can survive on its own, then a fetus is dead.

That should provoke interesting heated arguments about whether any human after birth who can not survive alone is also dead.

ON EDIT ADD

life
1. Biology. a. The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism. b. The characteristic state or condition of a living organism.
2. Living organisms considered as a group: plant life; marine life.
3. A living being, especially a person: an earthquake that claimed hundreds of lives.
4. The physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute existence: the artistic life of a writer.
5. a. The interval of time between birth and death: She led a good, long life. b. The interval of time between one's birth and the present: has had hay fever all his life. c. A particular segment of one's life: my adolescent life. d. The period from an occurrence until death: elected for life; paralyzed for life. e. Slang. A sentence of imprisonment lasting till death.
6. The time for which something exists or functions: the useful life of a car.
7. A spiritual state regarded as a transcending of corporeal death.
8. An account of a person's life; a biography.
9. Human existence, relationships, or activity in general: real life; everyday life.
10. a. A manner of living: led a hard life. b. A specific, characteristic manner of existence. Used of inanimate objects: “Great institutions seem to have a life of their own, independent of those who run them” (New Republic). c. The activities and interests of a particular area or realm: musical life in New York.
11. a. A source of vitality; an animating force: She's the life of the show. b. Liveliness or vitality; animation: a face that is full of life.
12. a. Something that actually exists regarded as a subject for an artist: painted from life. b. Actual environment or reality; nature.
13. Christian Science. God.

[Geezus]

2. I wonder if any of these congressmen

are actual certified doctors or scientists, who are the only type of people allowed to determine the answer to this question.

[Nobody]

3. You also have to deal with...

If life starts at conception, then I want to see 17 year olds showing up to vote. According to the due date given to their mothers before they were born, they'd be 18 and legal to vote. Right?

I'm sure the Alabama legislature would look forward to 15 year olds with drivers licenses and 20 year olds legally drinking and buying alcohol.

It really isn't a good idea to enroll four year olds in kindergarten, but it will happen a lot more if that law gets passed.

So, what do we do about premies? When IS the date of conception? Nine months from birth or nine months from due date?

At least birth is an event you can record, because your mother can't miss it. But she can be unaware of a conception occurring.