Protect women, unborn children; reject ‘Protect Our Rights’ initiative

Dear Editor,

It has been said that the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. Few would dispute that infants in the womb -at least by twelve weeks gestation and later -are the most defenseless and legally vulnerable among us. Yet for 50 years Americans have struggled over the question of whom we should defend – the child in the womb or the mother of the child? The only rational answer, although not the easiest or most convenient, is to protect them both - to find, create or build ways we can assist, nourish and support both the mother and her developing child.

Over the last 33 years, Nebraska has worked hard to establish protections that will help mothers choose healthy lives for themselves and their babies, protections such as: Informed consent, Partial Birth Abortion Ban, Parental Consent for minors seeking abortion, Mothers’ Right to see their Ultrasounds, and Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection (protecting even pre-viable unborn babies after 20 weeks’ gestation). In addition, an abundance of pregnancy help centers have thrived in Nebraska, opening their doors to every expectant mother and family with the offer of material and spiritual aid for parents troubled by a challenging pregnancy.

However, all these protections and life-affirming aids could disappear if the “Protect Our Rights” Ballot Initiative succeeds.

That’s because the initiative would expressly create a “fundamental right to abortion” in Nebraska “without interference from the state” before viability (as determined by the abortion provider).

The no “interference” language also applies after viability where abortion is sought for essentially any reason.

So, while the paid canvasser seeking your signature for the initiative may say it protects ‘women’s reproductive health,’ in truth the initiative and proposed Amendment would supersede long-accepted health-and-safety regulations that “interfere with” unlimited abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. All safeguards for the mother’s and unborn child’s health will disappear. Life-saving pregnancy help centers could be threatened with closure by the state, as is currently being done in New York.

Anyone who appreciates even modest limits to abortion should not sign the “Protect Our Rights” initiative and should follow with a “No” vote if it reaches the November’s ballot. A Pro-Life alternative initiative will also be seeking signatures in our area – the “Protect Women and Children” Amendment sponsored by “Women and Children” of Nebraska.

If passed, this will establish our current 12-week abortion limit in the state Constitution, continuing Nebraska’s brave tradition of defending the vulnerable, empowering parents and fostering strong families.

Sondra Jonson,

Cambridge, Neb.