JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Abortion opponents are pushing for another Mississippi ballot initiative that would define life as beginning at conception.
Personhood Mississippi announced the introduction of a new anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution Tuesday. It was filed with the Secretary of State's Office.
Ann Reed, who was pregnant at 17 and had an abortion in 1987, filed the initiative. It states:
"The right to life begins at conception. All human beings at every stage of development are unique, created in the image of God, and shall enjoy the inalienable right to life as persons under the law."
Similar legislation was voted down by 58% of voters in 2011. Personhood officials said it does not affect in-vitro fertilization or fertility procedures.
"Mississippi voters have already spoken. Health care decisions should be left to a woman, her doctor, and her faith, not politicians. Mississippians expect real solutions to the real crises facing our state, not government intrusion into private medical decisions," said Planned Parenthood Southeast Director of Public Policy Felicia Brown-Williams.
The sponsors would have one year to gather nearly 90,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. That means the earliest likely date for a vote would be in Nov. 2015, coinciding with the next governor's election.
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Similar legislation was voted down by 58% of voters in 2011. Personhood officials said it does not affect in-vitro fertilization or fertility procedures.
