Should Congress Legalize Abortion With An Amendment?

[shifrbv]

It seems whenever the US has been faced with a situation which can be flip-flopped in court decisions, Congress has included an amendment to settle the matter.

Take slavery, an issue just as hotly debated as the abortion issue today. Courts kept waffling on the decision, so Congress finally set forth the 13th Amendment and slavery as it was once known, disappeared.

Right now, women have the freedom to legalized abortion. However, if Roe vs. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court, it could go back to the states (which some conservative states might outlaw the practice again). It seems if Congress were to ratify legalized abortions as the 28th Amendment, this issue could be settled once and for all just as the issue of legalized slavery was settled in 1865.

 

[Viper GTS]

How about if they ratify an amendment specifically prohibiting abortions?

That sounds like a good idea to me.

Viper GTS

 

[DAM]

how about we do neither, and we use the bill of rights on this one.





dam()

 

[shifrbv]

DAM - This issue isn't covered in the Constitution or the Bill Of Rights. In fact, to show you how far Roe vs. Wade is from approving of outright abortion, the decision actually has it's roots in women's ability to have a free trial (which has nothing to do with abortion).

It's a gray area which needs more definition than Roe vs. Wade to keep the courts from waffling.

Viper GTS - Abortions are already legal in every state under certain conditions. An amendment would just make sure that the rights which are already in place couldn't be challenged or revoked by small groups of conservatives.

 

[MrAnderson]

How about we leave it out of the governments hands?

 

[saxman]

I think people should stop doing abortions, but whether it is legal or not will not stop them. It is a personal choice, and I believe no matter how painful...only one choice should be made(the one I think God would make!).

 

[Moonbeam]

Interesting how the retrograde opposition to abortion and freeing slaves are concentrated in the same places. Isn't it facinating how my wonderfully original thought is just like the people I'm surrounded by.

 

[bigbootydaddy]

yeah, i think only the mothers who are in this situation should do what they want. its not like we have the right to decide for them. if we have the right to decide for them, why are we so special??

 

[Viper GTS]

shifrbv...

That's my whole point. I don't WANT them to be legal.

I guess you could say I'm a part of one of those "small groups of conservatives."

Viper GTS

 

[ArkAoss]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ok what is it TRP sings?
"i make the songs the whole world sings"

 

[jaydee]

Ok. Think about it.
First of all, an amendment is a change by definition. Abortion is legal right now so an amendment could not be made since it wouldn't be a 'change'.
Second of all, for an Amendment to be passed, 3/4 of the states must approve of it, which I find HIGHLY unlikely under todays circumstances to happen, since more than 2/3's the states voted Republican in the Presidential election. So essentially, its NOT in congress's hands.
And one final thing, I don't understand why Congress would want to approve of the new Amendment, considering Republicans have the majority in the House, and its nearly a split in the Senate. It would be a HUGE upset if such came out of one of those considering you need a 2/3's majority to pass.
The only reason the slavery issue was solved was something called the Civil War, and the South had it shoved down their throats, after the North won.

 

[jaydee]

Geez, not wanting to kill babies is now a 'small group of conservatives'? We're a dying breed of radicals it looks like Viper. Better hold on for our dear lives.

 

[Electric Amish]

I don't care how they go about doing it. Abortions should be legal. Period.

amish

 

[Crimson]

Yeah, abortion is a god given right to even woman!! WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR IT!










Umm.. yes, that was sarcasm.

 

[BoberFett]

If the only people opposing abortion is a small group of radical conservatives, why did Bush win? Something to think about.

 

[HaVoC]

I think this issue is far too divisive to be brought to a vote. It would concern people too much and cause other, equally-important issues to be ignored which is dangerous. The country does not need an Abortion Amendment.

 

[jaydee]

Bush didn't win the election. Just ask Clinton.

 

[Napalm381]

<< If the only people opposing abortion is a small group of radical conservatives, why did Bush win? Something to think about. >>

I have references numerous times that say that while a majority (about 2/3's) of the American public would not personally have an abortion, about the same proportion believes that other people should be allowed to have them.

 

[BoberFett]

That's certainly possible Napalm. And if it's true, would 1/3 of Americans be considered a small group? It may not be a majority, but it's not small. That's my only point.

To add a constitutional amendment, both houses must first approve it by 2/3 to even take it to a vote with the states. Then it needs 3/4 of the state's legislatures to approve it. Constitutional amendments aren't taken lightly, and for good reason.

 

[Napalm381]

Gallup Poll. I know, I know, polls are subject to error, blah blah blah. Heard it all before.

79 percent of the public in the most recent polling agreed that abortion should be legal in at least SOME circumstances. Only 19 percent agreed that it should be illegal in all circumstances.

A 4-to-1 majority that it should not be illegal qualifies those completely opposed to it as a minority in my book.

 

[DBL86]

Isn't human life already protected by law? I think abortion should be illegal. How can we send someone to prison for murdering their newborn child, and then permit someone to have their baby murdered right before it's born. If its not a human at conception, then exactly when does it become a human?

 

[bigbootydaddy]

who are we to decide, dont the mothers have a say in this, people who think htey should decide the fate of every women in this country are full of themselves, dont care if itr rep or demos, let the mom say, and thats that.

 

[HappyFace]

<< 79 percent of the public in the most recent polling agreed that abortion should be legal in at least SOME circumstances. Only 19 percent agreed that it should be illegal in all >>



79 + 19 = 98% - What do the other 2% believe, nothing?!

 

[DBL86]

bigbootydaddy, so you're saying the mom can decide if their child lives or dies? Why then can i not decide if my relatives or friends live or die? Or are they just at &quot;The age&quot; where their life starts to matter. Please explain.

 

[DRGrim]

Its not a baby untill its out and kicking.