Words Matter!

Maryland voters will vote to approve or reject a proposed amendment to the state constitution that, if approved, would have a disastrous effect on parental rights.

Read the words of the proposed amendment carefully.  It provides the necessary framework for the courts, the schools, law enforcement, and the medical community to ignore the parents' rights to make decisions they believe are in the best interest of their child.

The language is so absolute, so far reaching, that it is no stretch of the imagination to suggest that the amendment, even without corresponding enacting or enabling legislation, would allow a child of six to simply say that he never wants to have children, and the medical community would be obliged to sterilize him.

In the text of the proposed amendment below, I have bolded the parts that support my contention, above:

“That every person, as a central component of an individual’s right to liberty and equality, has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.  The State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”

Given the clear intent and reach of the amendment, it's hard for me to think of what the courts would deem "a compelling state interest."

There's no age limit stated or implied.  In fact, the very use of the term "every person" is clearly intended to include minors.  The phrase "and effectuate" means the child can make the decision without the approval of his or her parents.  The phrase "directly or indirectly" can obviously be read to include almost any action you can think of.

If you put your head in the sand and pretend this won't be used to effectuate exactly the scenario I mention above, then you're either an idiot, or you're complicit.

Vote NO to this amendment.  It's outrageous.

Update: 9/10/2024 - California takes custody of and attempts to ‘transition’ Christian widow’s child. See?!  Don’t think this won’t come to Maryland if this amendment passes.