WDAM.COM - TV 7 - News, Weather and SportsWDAM Viewpoint- Wording of Initiative #26

WORDING OF INITIATIVE  #26

November 3, 2011

As we count down the final days to next Tuesday's election, the discussions, advertising both for and against, and political endorsements both for and against Initiative 26 about more and more.  Initiative 26 is more commonly known as the Personhood Amendment.  Both the Republican and Democrat Gubernatorial candidates have come out in favor of voting for it, while outgoing Governor, Haley Barbour has said that—although he is Pro-Life—the wording is too vague.  Certainly we live in complex times…and a lot of people are confused over just what the initiative says and doesn't say.   Seven on Your Side has aired a number of stories about it—yet we continue to get questions.  While it is not our editorial position to tell anyone how they should vote, we give the people of Mississippi credit for being able to decide for themselves, we did think it would be good to simply tell you what Initiative 26 says.  Many people will not read it before getting into the ballot box.  Therefore here is the exact wording of the Amendment to Section 33 of the Mississippi Constitution:  Person defined.  As used in this Article III of the state constitution, "The term ‘person' or ‘persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof."  According to the Secretary of State's office that is what it says and all it says.  As you listen to the various arguments…think about the wording of the proposed amendment and decide for yourself.  I'm Jim Cameron and that's today's Viewpoint.  As always—we want to hear from you.