The Alabama House of Representatives Health Committee recently approved a bill that would effectively ban abortion in that state.
The “personhood” constitutional amendment, sponsored by Rep. Ed Henry (R-Hartselle), would declare that any fertilized human embryo is a person whose life must be constitutionally protected. The full House, and then the Senate, must each approve the measure by three-fifths supermajorities in order to appear on a ballot for voters to consider.
The text of the amendment reads:
The term “persons” as used in the Code of Alabama 1975, shall include any human being from the moment of fertilization or the functional equivalent thereof.
The pro-life group Personhood Alabama has been the leading force behind the proposal, which was offered in the House in late February. To help educate legislators and the general public, the group produced a series of question-and-answer talking points about the amendment.
Alabama legislators are considering a number of other pieces of legislation that deal with abortion. One, which recently passed the Senate, would prohibit abortion clinics from being located within 2,000 of a K-8 public school.
Another, introduced this week by Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City), would prohibit dismemberment abortions in the state. Also known as “D&E” abortions, they account for almost all (approximately 96 percent, according to experts) of second-trimester abortions.
Neighboring Mississippi enacted its own ban on the brutal practice recently. Both bills are based on model legislation drafted by the National Right to Life Committee.
“Alabama children should be protected by law from being torn limb from limb,” Alabama Citizens for Life President Bill Klein said. “No human should die this way in a civilized society. It shows a total disrespect for the sanctity of human life.”
