Life act would violate civil rights

Congressman Paul Ryan and the Republicans have introduced the Sanctity of Human Life Act (House Resolution 23), which declares human life to begin with fertilization, even in laboratories. Thus, a fertilized egg, and then fetus, would be considered a legal person protected by “all the legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood.” This means that most types of contraception and family planning methods (such as in vitro fertilization) would be considered manslaughter. Any form of abortion, including cases of fatal birth defects, rape or incest, would be illegal and deemed infanticide.

Every aspect of pregnancy would be monitored and controlled by the government, denying women their own personhood. If ratified, the bill would be a horrifying slippery slope that could affect Americans well beyond family planning. The bill does not address a variety of possibilities ranging from whether the “person” in-womb would be considered a “dependent” for tax purposes to criminalizing mothers for child endangerment or manslaughter, nor other negative consequences that have not yet been identified.

The Sanctity of Human Life act violates the civil rights of all women. Americans should do everything in their power to overturn it.

Paige Harnish

Cedar Rapids