LETTER: Foes wildly exaggerate Measure 1

The Human Life Amendment (Measure 1) is what it says it is. We don’t need to dream up wild possibilities as opponents are suggesting, including doctors being forced to keep dying patients on life support or doctors being restricted from performing in vitro fertilization procedures.

One could compare the amendment to the constitutional right of North Dakotans to bear arms. The constitution does not specify how many or what type you may own, or where you may use the arms. Lawmakers MAY make laws regarding these things, but it must go through due process in the Legislature.

In the same way, the Human Life Amendment gives a legal right to life and a guard rail of protection to all North Dakotans. This amendment is not self-executing, which means that all laws related to it must go through due process. The North Dakota Century Code already guarantees the right to living wills. Measure 1 does not and cannot repeal that statute. Any laws regarding IVF also would need to go through a normal lawmaking process.

Activists and others who are making wild claims actually are pushing for unlimited abortion in the state above and beyond what is imposed by Roe v. Wade. These same folks are using dollars procured from the abortion industry to fund their claims.  I would ask my good friends and neighbors in this great state to use common sense and disregard the untruths and scare tactics. Voting for Measure 1 is not as confusing as the opponents suggest. A yes vote quite purely and simply protects the inalienable right to life of every person.

Laurie Kraemer

Grand Forks