A proposal that would ask Missouri voters to add unborn children to the state Constitution’s protection of a “right to life” has been passed out of the state House. The resolution would add the words, “unborn human children at every stage of biological development.”
Representative Shamed Dogan (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Republicans, including Representative Shamed Dogan (R-St.Louis), say even if the measure is passed, the right to abortion is protected at the federal level.
“Those of us who are a part of the pro-life movement have been responsible for bringing the number of abortions in this state down from over 16,000 in the 1980s to 5,000 now,” said Dogan.
Rick Brattin (R- Harrisonville) says every life is worth fighting for.
“All lives matter. It goes beyond any race, any creed, any gender because all life matters and especially with abortion. All life matters,” said Brattin. “No person should have the right to abort and to dictate whether one lives or dies.”
Representative Bill Otto
Representative Bill Otto (D-Maryland Heights) thinks lawmakers could later regret passing the proposal.
“There was talk about the Constitution and this does not exceed the federal Constitution but it clearly is. It’s clearly trying to get past the federal Constitution, although it says in here it is not,” said Otto.
Representative Deb Lavender (D-Kirkwood) says lawmakers should not be telling women what life means.
“This HJR does say that abortion in all cases will be outlawed. That means in the case of rape, in the case of incest and in the case of the life the woman,” said Lavender.
The measure moves to the Senate with six days remaining in the session.
