Regional
(2010-08-31)
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DENVER, CO
(KUNC) -
The so-called Personhood Amendment is back, albeit in a slightly different form. Anti-abortion groups this fall are pushing the ballot measure that asks voters to amend the state constitution to define a person as "from the moment of biological development."
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Abortion rights groups and opponents of the measure staged a rally in front of the state capitol Tuesday chanting, "no on 62," among other things.
If passed, Amendment 62 could effectively bar all abortions and emergency contraception in Colorado. It's similar to Amendment 48 in 2008, which would have defined a fetus as a person. That measure resoundingly failed, with voters rejecting it by a 3 to 1 margin.
Abortion rights groups are hoping for the same this year.
"Amendment 62 is dangerous," said Vicky Cowart, president of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, who was among several speakers at the rally.
"It eliminates a woman's right to make personal, private decisions about her body and her health, and it invites politicians, lawyers, and the courts into the relationship between a woman and her doctor."
Abortion opponents and personhood amendment backers crashed the party. Several verbal scuffles broke out as some shouted "liar" and "traitor" during the speeches.
Will Duffy of Littleton said he had no problem interrupting the planned event.
"Recently a politician shouted out to Obama, 'you lie,' and I think that's important when someone's using a pulpit to lie," Duffy said.
Duffy added that he thinks abortion rights advocates are wrong to say that the amendment would put a woman's life at risk.
"All we're doing is defining basically when life begins," he said. "And you never heard them say anything about a baby. That's why we're here, because it's a baby."
Colorado is the only state to consider a personhood amendment this year. Several states have taken up similar measures, but most have been rejected by state legislatures or have failed to make it on the ballot.
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