Based on the language of CI-128, the law will NEVER limit abortion before viability and will ALWAYS permit abortion after viability. The amendment will be placed in the Montana Constitution's Article II Declaration of Rights, making abortion in Montana always about the rights of the mother, never about the rights of the baby to live.
Summary:
Unlimited Abortion – CI-128 would create a constitutional right to unlimited abortion including partial-birth abortion.
The amendment provides no legal argument that can be made for the “right to life” of the unborn child.
Healthcare Professionals: meaning a doctor, nurse, chiropractor, physical therapist, or paramedic can approve abortion AT ANY STAGE OF PREGNANCY.
Abortions are valid for medical or psychological reasons of the mother.
“Fetal viability” is determined by the “judgment” call of the abortionist.
Taxpayer Funded Abortion – passing CI-128 will increase taxpayer-funded abortion procedures in Montana.
This will invalidate any state laws we do have prohibiting abortion. Abortion will be legal at all stages of the baby’s pre-birth life.
Safe Harbor for Sex Traffickers – predators and sex traffickers will be protected when they force victims to obtain abortion
Eliminates current laws on parental notification. Our teens will receive abortions and parents will have no knowledge or voice because the law prohibits any infringement on the "pregnant patient's autonomous decision-making".
The broad language “reproductive care” also opens to door to radical gender reassignment surgery.
Understand this, Jeff Laszloffy, President of the Montana Family Foundation warns that if this goes to the voters, it will pass.
Please ask your friends to “decline to sign” the petitions being circulated.
1. Terms used in the Ballot Statement are ambiguous and confusing to voters
“Health” – The petition would …” also prohibit the government from denying or burdening access to an abortion when a treating healthcare professional determines it is medically indicated to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.” Is this term intended to cover physical health only, or also mental health? If the term is limited to physical health, is that intended to be restricted to emergent medical conditions? Or does this term also extend to pregnancies that increase the risk of certain medical complications?
“Healthcare professional” – This term is not defined. A healthcare professional could be anyone providing healthcare. It could be a doctor, but it could also mean nurse, chiropractor, dentist, physical therapist, or paramedic. This undefined term will lead to inconsistent medical standards.
“Fetal viability” – Modern advances in neonatal care have moved the standard for viability for pre-born babies. For this proposed constitutional amendment, the term “fetal viability” has no concrete, universal meaning. It is all based on the subjective determination of a “healthcare professional.” The phrase “Fetal viability” is vague and Montana voters will not be able to cast an informed ballot because of this ill-defined term alone.
2. Ballot Measure #14 will eliminate existing protections already debated by the People’s Representatives and signed into law that regulate the abortion industry. While opponents may disagree with existing law, the reality is that these laws are in place to protect vulnerable women to the greatest degree possible.
3. The Mechanism for an individual to “provide consent” is a simple signature given at the abortion clinic. Research indicates that it is no irregularity for women to be coerced into getting abortions, especially underage girls who are experiencing abuse or are being trafficked. The elimination of existing law for this “Constitutional Right to Abortion” will eliminate the ability for parents to provide consent before their daughter undergoes a radical procedure. This also helps to eliminate coerced abortions from taking place.
4. CI-128 will allow for unregulated abortion in Montana. The State will be effectively prohibited from regulating partial birth abortion, dismemberment abortion, and other late term abortion procedures.
5. Many parents have experienced the unexpected arrival of a child before fullterm and are blessed beyond belief with the fulfillment that comes from having children. How can we come to terms with normalizing radical, violent, painful procedures being used to kill pre-born babies, many of whom are able to feel pain and survive outside the womb?
6. Women who undergo abortion, especially at younger ages, often resent their decision and experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. CI-128 will not help the mental health crises in our State but instead, it will exacerbate it.
