The North Dakota House of Representatives has passed the first personhood amendment in the United States, 57-35. Read more
Press Release
Personhood USA: Gosnell is GUILTY of same crimes of other U.S. abortion providers
As news of Gosnell’s Guilty verdict is breaking, Personhood USA notes that Gosnell’s criminal actions are no different than that of other abortion providers across the United States.
“Kermit Gosnell killed babies after they survived an abortion attempt, which is an action that was just recently sanctioned by Planned Parenthood,” explained Jennifer Mason, spokesperson for Personhood USA. “Planned Parenthood just recently testified that it is up to the mother and her doctor whether a baby who is born alive after an attempted abortion should be killed after delivery. Kermit Gosnell, Planned Parenthood, and abortionists across the country are guilty of killing innocent people. It is time for an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s defense of post-birth killings at their own clinics and laws to end the barbaric practice of abortion entirely.”
Abortion providers across the country use several methods to kill unborn children, including dilation and evacuation (D&E), a method extremely similar to that which Gosnell performed in his clinic.
“Abortion providers nationwide kill babies every single day using similar methods including dismemberment, stabbing, suctioning, and severing of spinal cords. All abortion clinics are extremely dangerous, and all of them kill living babies,” continued Mason. “The location of the baby does not determine the personhood of the baby – whether in the womb or out of it, every baby should be protected.”
“Gosnell is abortion personified,” Mason concluded. “The faces of those babies killed at his clinic are representative of the faces of every baby killed at every clinic. Other abortion providers are just as guilty as Gosnell. The conditions may be different, but the results are the same – every abortion yields one dead baby and one wounded mother.”
Victim asks Governor not to sign new Crimes Against Pregnant Women Act
Heather Surovik, whose son was killed in a drunk driving accident just days from delivery, has gone on record opposing HB 1154, titled the “Crimes Against Pregnant Women” act. The bill offers minimal penalties for perpetrators of crimes against pregnant women, while repealing criminal abortion laws already on the books in Colorado.
“This bill has very little to do with justice for pregnant victims of crime in Colorado,” explained Surovik. “Planned Parenthood and other supporters of this new bill opposed my efforts to seek justice for my son’s death just a few months ago. Now they have passed a law that does very little for women like me, while at the same time protecting abortion providers and repealing laws that have been on the books for years. This is a clear case of pro-choice organizations using stories like mine to push their own agendas. Please, Governor Hickenlooper, do not sign this law.”
The new Crimes Against Pregnant Women act specifically reinforces that babies like Brady are not people, eliminates criminal liabilities for abortionists who kill women during an abortion (by repealing 18-6-102), allows surgical and chemical abortions to be performed on minors without parental consent (by amending 13-22-105), legalizes the sale of chemical abortion drugs to minors (with the amendment of 13-22-105 and repeal of 18-6-102), and allows doctors to operate clinics much like Kermit Gosnell’s by completely exempting them as long as they claim to be providing “medical services” (18-3.5-102).
“I was asked by Representative Mike Foote to testify on behalf of this bill, and I was interested in helping until I learned that this bill is a back-door attempt to repeal abortion laws and protect abortionists,” continued Surovik. “I was shocked when the same people pushing the new bill testified against me in the hearings for a more common sense bill. I was told that when my 8 pound 2 ounce son Brady was killed, I only lost a ‘pregnancy’, not a baby. HB 1154 does not allow abortion doctors to be charged even when they are negligent.”
“Under the current laws in Colorado, there was no justice for my son’s death, and HB 1154 could allow further harm to pregnant women,” concluded Heather. “The best way to seek protection for pregnant victims of violent crimes is with the Brady Amendment, which I am collecting signatures for right now. I am trying to pass the Brady amendment to be a voice for Brady.”
Planned Parenthood passes bill to repeal Colorado abortion laws and sets stage for abortionists like Kermit Gosnell to move to Colorado
In a pro-abortion bill disguised as a crimes against pregnant women law, Planned Parenthood passed a repeal of Colorado abortion laws in Colorado today.
After testifying against and defeating HB 1032, a bill to protect Colorado pregnant mothers like Heather Surovik, whose 8lb 2 oz son was killed by a drunk driver in July of 2012, Planned Parenthood has passed HB 1154 which bans criminal charges for women killed in abortion procedures and repeals Colorado criminal laws that have been on the books for years.
Jennifer Mason, spokesperson for Personhood Colorado, commented: “Planned Parenthood’s backdoor attempt to repeal Colorado criminal laws has passed. No matter how negligent an abortionist may be, even if he is on par with Kermit Gosnell, he or she can no longer be criminally charged. Planned Parenthood has effectively created an abortion free-for-all in Colorado. Planned Parenthood’s deceptive new bill has created an infinitely more dangerous environment for pregnant women.”
HB 1154 eliminates criminal liabilities for abortionists who kill women during an abortion (by repealing 18-6-102), allows surgical and chemical abortions to be performed on minors without parental consent (by amending 13-22-105), legalizes the sale of chemical abortion drugs to minors (with the amendment of 13-22-105 and repeal of 18-6-102), and allows doctors to operate clinics much like Kermit Gosnell’s by completely exempting them as long as they claim to be providing “medical services” (18-3.5-102).
The passage of this bill came just hours after a Delaware Planned Parenthood clinic shut down for being exposed for conditions similar to those of Kermit Gosnell’s “house of horrors” in Philadelphia.
“Ironically, the part of this bill that was supposed to criminally charge perpetrators of crimes against pregnant women could enforce a $2,000 fine, which is close to the same price that Planned Parenthood charges for a second trimester abortion,” noted Gualberto Garcia Jones, J.D., legal analyst for Personhood Colorado. “Heather Surovik, who lost her son Brady at the end of her pregnancy because of a drunk driver certainly believes that her son’s life is worth more than $2,000. We stand with Heather, and with Brady, in denouncing HB 1154 and continuing to work to pass the Brady Amendment here in Colorado.”
President Obama slams Personhood USA, calls personhood “absurd”
Effectively stating that he does not believe that all human beings are people, President Obama called Personhood USA and Personhood Missisippi’s personhood amendment “absurd” when speaking at a Planned Parenthood fundraising gala earlier today.
“The personhood amendment only says that every human being is a person. Far from absurd, it is only reasonable to recognize every single human being as a person,” commented Jennifer Mason, Personhood USA spokesperson.
CNN reported that President Obama did not mention the ongoing trial of Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia abortionist who has been charged with murder and accused of severing the spinal cords of second- and third-trimester babies born alive at his abortion clinic. President Obama vigorously opposed Illinois’ Born Alive Infant Protection act as an Illinois Senator in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Likewise, Planned Parenthood recently stated that if a baby is born alive after surviving an abortion, the decision of whether or not to kill the newborn “should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,” seemingly blessing Gosnell's post-birth violent killings.
According to CNN, Obama also stated that the 2011 Mississippi personhood amendment was an “assault on women’s rights.”
Mason concluded: "Particularly in light of recent tragedies our country has suffered, it is seems grossly unnecessary for President Obama to raise funds for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood receives over $542 million of taxpayer dollars every year and has reported over one billion dollars in revenue for several years running. They are the largest and wealthiest abortion provider in our nation, and President Obama’s appearance at the gala was sure to generate additional revenue. That seems truly absurd.”
Pro-choice ‘Mob Mentality’ Culminates in Death Threats against North Dakota Governor and North Dakota Legislators
Amidst multiple threats of lawsuits in North Dakota, new threats have emerged. According to “Stand up for Women ND”, a Facebook group created to oppose the new abortion legislation and personhood amendment in North Dakota, Governor Dalrymple is receiving death threats from pro-abortion activists after signing three anti-abortion laws passed by the North Dakota House and Senate. 
After posting several negative comments about Governor Dalrymple, Stand up for Women ND stated, “We have received word that Governor Dalrymple is receiving death threats.” The post went on to plead with supporters of the anti-life cause to cease the criminal threats, closing with “We want stoic, respectful solidarity or we will not be taken seriously.” At the time of this press release the page did not express any concern for the life and health of Governor Dalrymple.
The death threats against the North Dakota Governor and pro-life North Dakota legislators come on the heels of threats of lawsuits in the state. A Tuesday article from RH Reality Check began by stating, “If the idea of long and expensive legal battles was supposed to dissuade North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple from signing into law some of the country’s most restrictive abortion measures, it didn’t work.”
Prior to the signing of the three anti-abortion bills, and prior to the passage of SCR 4009, a personhood amendment that will appear on the 2014 ballot, threats of a Planned Parenthood / ACLU lawsuit were rampant. Referencing millions of dollars in legal fees paid to Planned Parenthood in other states, the Grand Forks Herald ran an article acknowledging that a Planned Parenthood lawsuit could cost millions of dollars to taxpayers.
“Abortion is an act of violence against women and children, so death threats from pro-choice enthusiasts are not surprising,” stated Jennifer Mason, Personhood USA Spokesperson. “It seems that Planned Parenthood and the ACLU hope to deter any and all restrictions to abortion with the threat of multi-million dollar lawsuits - despite the fact that they already receive millions of dollars in taxpayer money. Planned Parenthood exacts a terrible toll from women - their health, the lives of their children, and more – not to mention that if they file lawsuits in North Dakota they could be costing millions in additional taxpayer dollars. US citizens are fed up with paying Planned Parenthood."
Personhood USA decries all violence – in the womb or out of it. “When the threat of lawsuits isn’t enough to force their agenda, it seems that pro-choice supporters think that death threats will accomplish their goals. These threats are deplorable,” continued Mason. “North Dakota legislators should not have to fear outrageous lawsuits for voting pro-life, nor should they have to fear for their lives.”
Telephone news conference with Senator Margaret Sitte to discuss full implications of North Dakota Personhood Amendment
Personhood USA and Personhood North Dakota will host a telephone conference call with Senator Margaret Sitte today to discuss the passage of the SCR 4009 the potential legal implications, along with specific details about the effect on fertility treatments for women.
SCR 4009 states: “the inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected.”
Who: Senator Margaret Sitte and Personhood North Dakota
What: Telephone news conference to discuss SCR 4009
When: 2:30pm MST/3:30pm CST
Where: Telephone News Conference participants can register at www.personhoodnorthdakota.com by clicking the banner at the top of the page.
North Dakota passes first state personhood amendment in US history
Bismarck, ND – 03/22/13 – Today, the North Dakota House of Representatives has passed the first personhood amendment in the United States, 57-35.
SCR 4009 states, “the inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected.”
Every major prolife organization in North Dakota has joined forces to defend and endorse SCR 4009, including North Dakota Family Alliance, North Dakota Right to Life, Concerned Women for America North Dakota, North Dakota Life League, North Dakota Catholic Conference, and Personhood North Dakota.
For the first time in United States history, a legislative body has approved a personhood amendment in both the House and the Senate. Now the amendment will be referred to the people of North Dakota for a vote.
SCR 4009 was written as to ensure that mother and baby are both treated as medical patients, that medical care is not inhibited, and that fertility treatments are not banned.
“The North Dakota legislature has taken historic strides to protect every human being in the state, paving the way for human rights nationwide,” affirmed Keith Mason, President of Personhood USA. “This amendment strikes the balance of accomplishing more for the unborn than any other amendment the nation has ever seen, while protecting pregnant women and their right to true medical care. We applaud the North Dakota House and Senate for their willingness to protect all of the people in their state.”
Gualberto Garcia Jones, J.D., legal analyst for Personhood USA, continued: “The North Dakota personhood amendment takes the pro-life plank of the GOP platform and it into practice. Furthermore, it allows the legislature the needed flexibility to implement the specific protections of the right to life through future legislation.”
Personhood Mississippi Files New Personhood Amendment
Jackson, Mississippi – 03/05/2013 – Today, Mississippi resident and post abortive mother Anne Reed filed a Life at Conception Citizen’s Initiative, which states:
“The right to life begins at conception. All human beings, at every stage of development, are unique, created in God’s image and shall have equal rights as persons under the law.”
“This amendment is a common sense approach to protecting both babies and women from the devastation of abortion,” stated Reed. “I was a volunteer for personhood in the last election, and I believe it is critical that we try again. This time we intend to fight back against the lies of our wealthy pro-abortion opponents. We will be proactive in educating Mississippi voters as to the full intent and resulting effects of this amendment.”
The new amendment, filed today, will go to the Secretary of State’s office. Once the ballot title and summary have been finalized, ballot sponsors will have twelve months to collect nearly 108,000 signatures.
In 2010, Personhood Mississippi submitted about 40,000 signatures more than the required number.
“When abortion was legalized in Mississippi, there was very little information available about the child in the womb,” explained Jennifer Mason, Personhood USA spokesperson. “Since 1973 there have been amazing developments in technology and medicine. We now know without question that the child in the womb is not just tissue, but a living, growing human being. Women deserve better than outdated speculation about pregnancy. The question is not whether or not the child in the womb is a person – the question is whether or not we will protect them.”
Liberty Counsel’s renowned Constitutional Attorney Steve Crampton added, “There is nothing controversial about these propositions. Our opponents will try to scare voters with ridiculous hypotheticals about what this amendment will do. I want to set the record straight about what it WON’T do. The Personhood Amendment won’t ban in vitro fertilization; it won’t ban contraception; it won’t deny healthcare to women; and it won’t put doctors at risk of prosecution for unintended injury to an unborn child. What it will do is recognize the most basic of all human rights, the right to life, for all human beings, born and unborn.”
Personhood Mississippi to hold telephone news conference for new amendment
JACKSON, Miss., March 4, 2013 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Personhood Mississippi will hold a telephone news conference on Tuesday March 5 to announce the filing of a new personhood amendment.
The amendment will be filed by a new sponsor and is worded differently than the 2011 personhood amendment.
Who: Personhood Mississippi Amendment Sponsors
What: Personhood Mississippi Telephone News Conference
When: Tuesday March 5 at 2:30 p.m. CST
Members of the press can call at 2:30 p.m. Central Time. All callers will be pre-screened and will have the opportunity to ask questions at the close of the call.
Please register to participate and/or listen to the press conference at this link: https://www.accuconference.com/customer/Registration/index.aspx?pkRegQG=...
Personhood Mississippi Press Conference
SOURCE Personhood USA
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/04/5235543/personhood-mississippi-to-hold….
Personhood Education to co-sponsor major maternal health event at United Nations
World-renowned medical experts specializing in maternal health will present cutting-edge research and policy recommendations to international diplomats during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The expert briefing is co-sponsored by Personhood Education, Alliance Defending Freedom, Construye A.C., Vida y Familia de Guadalajara, and the Committee for Excellence in Maternal Healthcare.
In accordance with Millennium Development Goal 5, delegates to the CSW often discuss policies for reducing world-wide maternal mortality. Unfortunately, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and sympathetic delegations often use this admirable goal as a vehicle to advance resolutions which promote abortion in developing nations. The parallel-event on maternal health will counter these arguments by showing that abortion hurts women and their babies.
Expert’s presentations will focus on the implications of advances in women’s health for policymaking on maternal mortality and contemporary management of high-risk pregnancies. The evidence and findings of the Dublin Declaration, which says that abortion is not medically necessary, will be presented to United Nations delegations, along with empirical data showing the correlation between prohibiting abortion and improvement in women’s health.
“The medical evidence shows that abortion is not healthcare,” said Josh Craddock, Personhood USA’s United Nations Liaison. “It is essential that diplomats negotiating at the United Nations on matters of life and death be informed that abortion hurts women and is never medically necessary. Pregnant women and their babies deserve to be protected by healthcare practices which recognize the dignity of both patients.”
Policy-making to reduce maternal mortality: A holistic approach to maternal care
Held Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 8:30-10:00AM
Boss Room, 8th Floor
Church Center for the UN
777 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Reception to follow at the Roosevelt Hotel (45 E 45th St.) at 6:00PM. Refreshments provided.
All national delegations and NGO representatives focusing on women’s health are encouraged to attend. RSVP to uncsw57@gmail.com.
Recent Press Releases
Recent Blog Posts
Personhood in the News
