Mississippi defeats so-called ‘personhood amendment’

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Mississippi Initiative 26, the so-called "personhood amendment," would define life beginning at fertilization. Personhood USA is a Colorado-based group that has been running a nationwide campaign to get states to define a fertilized human egg as a person. A similar effort was defeated in Colorado in 2010. Personhood Mississippi founder Les Riley drafted a ballot initiative called “Yes On 26.”

The measure does more than ban abortion. It also would criminalize most forms of birth control and destruction of embryos created in the laboratory (in vitro fertilization). There were no exceptions for rape or incest. Opponents argued that law enforcement would be required to investigate cases of miscarriages under the language of the act.

The opposition to this measure was a true grassroots movement of citizens with little national financial support.

The Associated Press has called it — the "personhood amendment" has been defeated by Mississippi voters by 58-42% at this point.

This is another defeat for militant anti-abortion extremists.