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Should Wisconsin amend its Constitution to grant personhood to unborn children?

Would a personhood constitutional amendment provide permanent protection for Wisconsin's unborn children?

No.

We are all weary of the long struggle to end abortion and want a solution to protect unborn children from being destroyed.     However, there are very important reasons why a personhood amendment strategy is not necessary, risky -- and just plain wrong for Wisconsin.

There are at least four good reasons why a personhood amendment is wrong for Wisconsin.

1. A Personhood Amendment Would Cancel out our Current Abortion Ban. 

Wisconsin is fortunate to be one of only a handful of states which already has a law that prohibits abortion (s. 940.04 of the Wisconsin statutes).  Right now, this law cannot be used because of the Roe v. Wade abortion decision which legalized abortion.

Once Roe v. Wade is overturned, this law would immediately go into effect and protect unborn children by shutting down abortion clinics.  A personhood amendment would be harmful because it would make this law that prohibits abortion invalid. 

2. A Personhood Amendment Would Not Protect Wisconsin's Unborn Children. 

Second, without passing an entirely new law that prohibits abortion, a constitutional amendment in and of itself would not stop a single abortion.  Some people mistakenly believe that exiting laws on homicide and manslaughter would cover abortion following passage of a personhood amendment.  However, these laws were not written with the unique medical situations which apply to abortion. 

For over 100 years, Wisconsin law has made a distinction between abortion and homicide which will not be changed by a personhood constitutional amendment.

One of the real problems with a personhood amendment is that it would knock out the law we already have and force Wisconsin to pass a new one. 

And, when it comes time to pass such a law, will there be a pro-life legislature in place to pass it?  And beyond that, will there be a pro-life Governor to sign it? 

Unfortunately, there is just no way to know.

3. The Cost of Enacting a Wisconsin Personhood Amendment would be in the Millions of Dollars. 

The third reason a personhood amendment is wrong for Wisconsin is the cost factor.  The Cost of Enacting a Personhood Amendment would be in the Millions of Dollars.

For the constitution to be amended, a proposal must pass in two consecutive sessions of the Wisconsin legislature and then be placed on the ballot for approval by the public.  Wisconsin Right to Life estimates it would cost at least $4 million or more to win a ballot measure.

4. Attorneys’ Fees Would be Awarded to Planned Parenthood. 

Reason number four is especially frightening.  Attorneys’ Fees Would be Awarded to Planned Parenthood

Should a personhood amendment succeed, expert national and state legal authorities who advise Wisconsin Right to Life believe it would be challenged in court and struck down. 

Organizations like Planned Parenthood who would challenge the amendment would be awarded thousands of taxpayer dollars in legal fees.

Sometimes an idea is too good to be true.  

This is one of those times.  

It's wrong to give false hope to mothers and babies.  To do so is not in their best interests.

Supporting a costly effort like a personhood amendment which is risky and unnecessary has the very real potential of causing more harm than good.

Summary 

In summary, Wisconsin is already in the best position possible to protect unborn children by keeping in place the lifesaving law we already have.

Wisconsin Right to Life therefore vigorously opposes the passage of a personhood constitutional amendment in Wisconsin.  We urge individuals, churches and groups not to support a personhood amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution.

Your support for our existing abortion ban is vital.  Please tell your friends, family, neighbors, pastor and other church leaders why a personhood amendment is wrong for Wisconsin. 

Please share this website with them: wrtl.org/pa

Further, you can download and print the flier and share it with family, friends, your pastor and other church leaders.

Thank you.

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