Representative Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove) wants to ask Missouri voters to change the state Constitution to say that life begins at conception. A House committee is considering his proposed amendment.

Representative Mike Moon (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Mike Moon (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville) backs the measure.

“If you’re going to determine death by heartbeat, no brain activity and all these parameters, the things that determine life are way into the early stages of a pregnancy,” said Brattin.

St. Louis physician Ed Weisbart opposes the proposal and recalls one of his patients choosing to abort her baby in order to save her own life.

“She had a decision to make and she didn’t make it casually. It wasn’t the decision that she was at all comfortable with, but she decided after careful consideration with her husband that this was the right decision for their family,” said Weisbart. “I’m here to say that they should be the ones to get to make that decision.”

Ike Skelton with pro-life group Missourians for the Unborn supports the measure and calls allowing abortion in the U.S. a culture of death.

Sarah Rossi with ACLU Missouri says the proposal won’t hold up in court.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on personhood multiple times in the form of allowing abortion in the country,” said Rossi. “State Supreme Courts have ruled on multiple resolutions like this and they’ve been struck down.”

No vote has been taken on the measure. Moon filed a similar proposal for the 2015 legislative session.