AMENDMENT 48: 'Personhood' issue crushed
An amendment that would define life as beginning at the moment of conception met resounding defeat Tuesday, with a margin of 73 percent of Colorado voters against it. Even voters in El Paso County, where Amendment 48 was born, rejected it handily.
The amendment -- spearheaded by 21-year-old Peyton woman -- is one of the most controversial measures on the ballot and has garnered national attention. If approved, it will change the state Constitution to define life as beginning at the moment of fertilization.
Proponents believe the measure is needed to give the unborn the same legal privileges granted to all Coloradans, including inalienable rights, equality of justice and due process.
But critics argue that the amendment could lead to outlawing all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. They also say the wording is so vague that various forms of contraception and in vitro fertilization could be outlawed. The Colorado Bar Association said the measure would create a tidal wave of lawsuits as lawyers argued over the definition of "person" used thousands of times in state statutes.
The measure has split the anti-abortion movement. Groups that include the National Right to Life Committee, the Catholic Conference of Colorado and Focus on the Family Action, the lobbying arm of Focus, did not endorse the measure, believing it would not pass and that there were better ways to affect state and federal abortion laws.
The No on 48 campaign has had a significant advantage in funds, receiving more than $1.7 million in donations. It also has had a seasoned, media-savvy volunteer staff; in October, the group rolled out slick "No on 48" radio and TV ads in major Colorado markets.
By contrast, the pro-48 group Colorado for Equal Rights received $330,426 and relied mostly on grassroots efforts to get its message out.
El Paso County results, with 99.5% of precincts reporting,
YES 63,255 (36.84%)
NO 108,468 (63.16%)
Colorado results, with 76% reporting,
NO 1,349,745 (73%)
YES 493,673 (27%)
CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0367 or mark.barna@gazette.com.
