This sounds very similar or almost exactly the same as the Life at Conception Act introduced by Duncan Hunter. I hope one or the other passes, as both would recognize life beginning from conception and would in affect make Roe vs. Wade worthless.
No. They are not the same at all.
Duncan Hunter's bill is wonderful. It simply recognizes the personhood of the unborn, to make it clear that the provisions of the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments apply to them as much as to any other American. Ergo, killing them is as unlawful everywhere as it is to kill anyone.
As DugwayDuke has so capably illustrated, Ron Paul's bill does something else entirely. While recognizing the humanity of the unborn on its face, it illogically goes on and lays out a system under which CA and NY and MA babies can continue to be slaughtered, even if babies with the good fortune to be physically present in another State cannot.
This is a travesty, an injustice, and an abrogation of the right to the equal protection of the laws.
THIS is the right Bill:
Right to Life Act (Introduced in House)
HR 618 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 618
To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 22, 2007
Mr. HUNTER (for himself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. HAYES, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. CANNON, Mr. WAMP, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. RENZI, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, Mr. HERGER, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. MANZULLO, Mrs. CUBIN, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. FORBES, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. TIAHRT, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. FORTUN.AE6O, Mr. AKIN, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Ms. FOXX, Mr. SALI, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. TERRY, Mr. PITTS, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. GOODE, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. CARTER, and Mr. GOODLATTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Right to Life Act’.
SEC. 2. RIGHT TO LIFE.
To implement equal protection for the right to life of each born and preborn human person, and pursuant to the duty and authority of the Congress, including Congress’ power under article I, section 8, to make necessary and proper laws, and Congress’ power under section 5 of the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) HUMAN PERSON; HUMAN BEING- The terms `human person’ and `human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.
(2) STATE- The term `State’ used in the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States and other applicable provisions of the Constitution includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each other territory or possession of the United States.