Constitutional Amendment (The Right To Life Amendment)

[Ebowed]

It is a pointless piece of legislation. You can actively oppose any of these things without banning them. Such an amendment would only serve to silence the pro-choice voice.

You can also actively oppose murder, rape, theft, etc., without banning them, but generally these things are illegal because we have basic laws and standards.

[Emsworth]

The Constitution is there to protect the basic rights of the people and dictate how the federal government will function, is it not?  If this document is intended to protect basic rights, then certainly one of these basic rights is the right to life.

I agree only in part. A very important purpose of the Constitution is to protect rights from the federal government. The regional constitutions protect rights from regional governments.

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I can understand your argument with respect to abortion and the death penalty, but not euthanasia.

[afleitch]

It is a pointless piece of legislation. You can actively oppose any of these things without banning them. Such an amendment would only serve to silence the pro-choice voice.

You can also actively oppose murder, rape, theft, etc., without banning them, but generally these things are illegal because we have basic laws and standards.  I didn't realize you were an anarchist, although I suppose we learn something new everyday.

I understand and respect the fact that you feel strongly about the issue. As do I. I am not an anarchist by any means, I am simply Pro-Choice and I will make no apology for it.

[Ebowed]

We've established that; I'm just failing to see the logic behind any of the points you've made:
1.) That this legislation is only the will of myself and PBrunsel, which is irrelevant and untrue;
2.) That we should personally oppose abortion without imposing this view on others, which would be possible if we did not view abortion the way we did, and wish to stand up for the civil liberties of unborn human beings.

[Gabu]

There are a number of problems I have with this:

1. I still support the ability to have an abortion in the first trimester, regardless of how many intentionally gross pictures you show me.

2. I see absolutely nothing wrong with euthenasia if it's absolutely certain that the person will die from his or her condition and that the person wants to die peacefully instead of in extreme pain.

3. My only opposition to the death penalty stems from cases where it's not 100% absolutely sure that the person committed the crime and yet the person still gets the death penalty.  If it's completely known as a fact that the person did the crime, I don't oppose the death penalty, although I won't really care if the person gets life in prison instead.

4. Even if I did support all of the bans that this amendment would enact, I don't really feel that this needs an entire constitutional amendment for such a specific topic that is not crucial to the survival of our nation.

[Platypus]

Abortion is bad. But it is an individual's choice.

Capital Punishment is bad, and is the choice of the government to use or not.

If the federal government has the power to ban them, I'd only support the latter.

My position on euthanasia is undetermined, but I will be voting against this amendment.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Has anyone got any proposed amendments to this amendment? If not a vote will be called.

[Platypus]

I'd consider supporting an amendment to strike all references relating to abortion and euthanasia, but it wouldn't pass, so nothing from this corner.

[MasterJedi]

So can we get a vote on this or what?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I decided to give people time to propose amendments. Seeing as there are none...

I call a vote on this Amendment

[Gabu]

Nay.

[Ebowed]

Yea

[Jake]

Aye

[Platypus]

Nay

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[MasterJedi]

Tally:

3 Aye
2 Nay

[The Dowager Mod]

Nay

[Colin]

Nay

I believe we already have a moratorium on federal capital punishment and I believe that the death penalty should remain a state issue. The same goes for abortion and euthanasia. If you find these things offensive then try to end them on the regional level and let the individuals of the respective regions decide for themselves what they want official policy to be. I consider this amendment to be nothing more than federal tyranny and an attempt by this Senate to override the long cherished power of the regions to decide so-called "divisive" social issues on their own without interference from the federal government.

[PBrunsel]

Aye

[MasterJedi]

New Tally:

4 Aye
4 Nay

[CheeseWhiz]

New Tally:

4 Aye
4 Nay

So, Al, this has failed now, right?

[MasterJedi]

New Tally:

4 Aye
4 Nay

So, Al, this has failed now, right?

Well I'm not Al but you are correct, this has failed.

[afleitch]

Amen

I'm pretty much against abortion in most cases but this amendment was a ridiculous intrusion.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The Nays needed four, the Nays have four. The Nays have it, the Nays have it.

This Amendment has failed.

[PBrunsel]

Hey thanks for ruining my hopes and dreams on Christmas Eve guys.