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StumblePublished Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 3:15 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 6:21 p.m.
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Richard Ziser, who helped ban gay marriage in the state, today filed an initiative petition to prevent the state from intruding in people's lives at the beginning (defined as before birth in the wording) to the end, which would prevent any death panels from deciding who lives and dies. Ziser says the American Life League is working with local pro-life groups to qualify and pass the initiative. The group is called "Personhood Nevada."
Batten down the hatches.
I have posted the organizing documents and the initiative at right.
UPDATE: ACLU has a statement from Maggie McLetchie:
“The ACLU of Nevada supports the rights of members of the public, including those with whom it disagrees to engage in the ballot initiative process, subject to appropriate court oversight. At the same time, the ACLU of Nevada vehemently opposes the apparent intended goal of the proposed amendment. The ACLU supports a woman’s right to reproductive freedom, just as Nevada voters have already made clear and just as the Supreme Court has made clear the Constitution requires. Indeed, this amendment would be unenforceable in the abortion context under Roe v. Wade. Further, the language of the amendment and its explanation raises serious questions about its possible application and could have dire unintended consequences that its signers and Nevadans would not support. For example, it appears to grant full rights to embryos and dead people. It is also unclear whether it would increase an individual’s right to control end of life decisions or if it would conversely require state intervention before a living will could be effectuated.”
This is just stupid. Ziser has no right to interfer with other peoples lives and parenting decisions.
I know how to solve this problem GIVE ALL THE UNWANTED KIDS to Richard Ziser to take care of.
Obviously he has all this spare time on his hands to meddle in other people's lives.
He should put his money where his mouth is and adopt at least 100 unwanted children. And pay for all their expenses.
The sociological fact is that if you are born into a family with insufficient financial resources YOU HAVE A 90% CHANCE OF BEING IN POVERTY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
This bill would be FORCING POVERTY on thousands of unwanted and unplanned children.
That is why Ziser should get all these impoverished children and pay for them.
Someone forgot to do their biology homework before they "crafted" the language. Immature oocytes fall into this category as does cloning and don't get me started on mitochondrial DNA. What about 'persons' who do not have a complete or normal human genome? Can we legally dispose of them while protecting cells in a petri dish?
This will definitely make it onto the top 10 dumbest initiatives list.
This shows one of the biggest drawbacks of democracies -- majority tyranny.
Messing with the Constitution is ALWAYS a bad idea. And, like his anti-gay addition, a terrible conflict to its founding principles.
The U.S. Supremes determined long ago one's right to privacy included making health decisions with one's own physician. Inserting some zealots' moral ideals into personal choices is worth fighting against.
We progressives and conservatives should be able to apply medieval penalties to the likes of ziser like burning at the stake on a low slow flame,etc. Why do the "CONSERVATIVE" people of Nevada allow these religious freaks to impose their religious dogma on the rest of us ? Why doesn't he want to outlaw gambling,drinking,prostitution ??? Is it because he makes his living off of the tourist industry ???
Just. In. Time. For. Political. Season. Jon.
And right up your alley.
Tell your TV crew to get ready for some novel tight camera angles on the "Candy-Dates" on this one.
(Fingers crossed behind their backs, maybe?)
I was pleasantly surprised by the comments. Maybe always is a good time to emphasize how important it is to remember our constitution and bill of rights. All to often now days people get on some nut kick and then try to make other people follow their ideas. I think it is important to stress the importance of allowing all of us as much freedom as possible and try to be very tolerant of others. Just maybe a lot of what they say and do is really none of our business. It is time we show much more love and friendship to all of those we meet as maybe that way we might change some of their behavior we don't like. We won't change them much by expressing our dislike and contempt for them or their ways.
Richard Ziser is simply wasting time trying to impose HIS viewpoints on the reproductive rights of others. There's really nothing new under the sun on this issue.
gold1020 -- you're being hasty. It's hardly a waste of time when his zealot's agenda becomes part of Nevada's Constitution, the source code for Nevada governments, including all laws passed in this state. It's the only thing giving the state it's authority to govern its residents.
And although there's nothing new, it keeps coming back to haunt us all. Kind of like when you thought you get rid of all those roaches.
I am Pro-Choice therefore think this is a bad idea. On another note however, I am also bewildered that there are that many unwanted pregnancies. Unless you are 1) too young or stupid to understand the reproductive system (therefore too young or stupid to have sex) 2) have been raped or 3) are part of the 3% whose birth control has failed, you should not be faced with an unwanted pregnancy! If you simply CANNOT have a baby, DO NOT have sex. What are we all freaking dogs in heat and have no ability to say no? Some of these women and men are ridiculous using abortion as birth control and maybe should be sterilized... that would solve the issue!
In a couple of months we'll be reading of Richard "Dick" Ziser's homosexual escapade in a casino bathroom while high on meth . . .
redneck43 -- spoken like a true redneck.
Abortions have been with us since the first unwanted pregnancy.
My opinion -- I could be wrong -- is unless you have a womb, or its your sperm gestating in one, any opinion you have is completely irrelevant.
"This coarse and insulting way of regarding woman, as though they existed merely to be the safety-valves of men's passions, and that the best men were above the temptation of loving them, has been the source of unnumbered evils." -- Annie Besant, regarding Paul's teaching in I Corinthians 7:8-9: "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I But if they cannot contain, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn." Quoted from John E Remsberg, The Christ, pp. 320-21.
In a way I have to agree with redneck 43: a majority of abortions ARE used as a means of birth control, for whatever reason, as explained by correa. But until the time when birth control is affordable and easily accessible, we will continue to see large numbers of abortions. But to try to stop a woman (and her partner/spouse) from obtaining an abortion because of YOUR particular religious beliefs has no bearing on the argument. As we (luckily) STILL have separation of church and state, this argument is out of line. I am completely against trying to impose religious doctrine on human acts, be they abortion or gay rights.
And I have to also agree with Bob635: anyone who opposes abortions and would force a woman to carry a baby to term, should then be financially reponsible for the care and feeding of that child until they can support themselves. Denying abortion is forcing more poverty on the lower classes as the wealthy will ALWAYS have access to abortions.
Are they going to get Enswign's support?
Zitser teamed up with the morning talk radio blowhard to push the marriage bill. Zitser will help the nuttiest Republicans to win the primaries, helping the Dems in the general election. Go Pailin!
redneck43 -- again, spoken like a truly clueless redneck.
Is this two concepts in one initiative? That might not fly in the courts?? I guess people will have to pay to keep people in vegetative states alive, at taxpayer expense? Like homeless people that get hit by a city bus?? Crack Babies? Preemie illegal alien babies?? or teenage moms? and meth users?? welfare moms?
Get out your checkbook right to lifers. your taxes will skyrocket!
Ziser who doesn't have a womb, should keep his convictions far away from anyone who does.
How many times does this joker need to try and force is opinions on others? Good thing he wasn't elected. Last thing we need is another kook in office