Concerned
residents gathered Saturday morning, February 1, to learn about grassroots
efforts to promote passage of pro-life Amendment 1 during the General Election
this November. More than 30 advocates from Sumner, Robertson, Wilson, Smith and Macon counties gave up
their Saturday schedules to hear from speakers including state
legislators Mark Pody and Mae Beavers. Beavers served as prime Senate
sponsor of the proposed amendment during its final passage by the Tennessee
Legislature in 2011.
Having met the
required series of legislative votes to be placed on the ballot in 2014,
Tennessee voters will now have the opportunity to approve language which would
restore the ability of the people to decide what restrictions---if any---ought
to be placed on the practice of abortion in Tennessee. The amendment was
brought in response to the 2000 ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court which
claimed a broader, more fundamental right to abortion than even the federal
right established under Roe v Wade. As a result, Tennessee
lawmakers are largely prevented from deciding state abortion legislation and
existing protective policies have been struck down as violating the state
Constitution.
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