Do/Should they have the same rights protected under the U.S. Constitution as American citizens?
Why or why not? What are said rights?
2007-08-06 04:02:08 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Pfo:
I can't find the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in my copy of the Constitution. Where in that document do you see it?
2007-08-06 04:22:00 · update #1
No, they have none of the rights of citizens because citizenship only comes when you are born in the US, or become a US citizen through naturalization.
They do not have any of the rights of independent persons under the constitution until they are independent persons -- which require them to be born, or at least able to survive independently with medical assistance.
Otherwise, it becomes impossible to define when a potential person should get such rights -- imagine if every miscarriage could result in a wrongful death suit or murder charges.
Besides, the vast majority of constitutional rights are limits on what the govt is allowed to do -- not what private people are allowed to do. And the govt is not taking action if the woman has the right to choose.
2007-08-06 04:10:53 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The phrase is from the Declaration of Independence. Before the United States had a Constitution, were we not a country? Does the Constitution in any way replace or supersede the Constitution?
The Declaration states that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, which include Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It states that governments are instituted among men to secure these Rights. In other words, the purpose of government is the protection of life and property.
If we chose who these rights apply to, are we to eliminate the unborn? What about the old or disabled? The handicapped? Where do you want to draw the line?
This is not Nazi Germany. If we don't respect all life, our own may be in jeopardy.
2007-08-06 08:23:56 · answer #2 · answered by iraqisax 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that's what it takes to make people wake up and respect life, then so be it. They should have rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
People often talk of the woman's right to choose; why does the baby have no rights? A 1 year old is as capable of making a choice as a fetus, and killing 1 year olds is murder, so why is killed a -9 month year old not a problem?
2007-08-06 04:17:16 · answer #3 · answered by Pfo 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i'm not pregnant, yet have 2 toddlers. no remember in case you call it an embryo, fetus, or infant relies upon on the degree of progression technically, and on your guy or woman determination in my view. that's not recommend, basically a set of info. earlier each and every thing, that's barely a ball of undifferentiated cells. that's not a residing being, yet has the aptitude to grow to be one. Then that's an embryo. while it types right into a human, yet is only too small and way too early to be born, that's a fetus. some human beings proceed to call it a fetus until that's born. i've got confidence that's somewhat one after that's totally shaped. there is not something incorrect with calling it somewhat one from the beginning up in case you choose to, it only isn't a organic and organic actuality at that component. by means of how, I did consult with mine simply by fact the infant from the beginning up.
2016-11-11 08:57:09 · answer #4 · answered by tine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why stop with the fetus? Every egg and every sperm should have the same rights. And in some religions they do.
The Constitution was written by secular humanists, the people that founded the country. It is not based on or the basis of odd-ball religious beliefs, at least not yet.
A fetus has the same intelligence and as much soul as a lump of raw liver, and is due the same "rights".
2007-08-06 04:16:34 · answer #5 · answered by Gaspode 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
They already have some rights, just not a right to live although shooting a pregnant woman and killing her fetus is murder.
2007-08-06 04:15:42 · answer #6 · answered by Tom K 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Life and liberty. When a pregnant woman is killed the perp is always charged with 2 counts of murder.
2007-08-06 04:06:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
life
2007-08-06 04:06:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You have to phrase it differently if you want to help...the zygote, or fetus cannot vote or pay taxes & therefore, are not true citizens.
Sorry...
2007-08-06 04:11:59 · answer #9 · answered by fairly smart 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes! They have a heart beat, they are living cells, why shouldn't they?
So, to the people who say if you don't vote or pay taxes you are not protected. Does that mean I can kill anyone that doesn't pay taxes or vote? That is stupid reasoning!
2007-08-06 04:05:41 · answer #10 · answered by Flower Girl 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋