The equal protection of the God-given, individual, unalienable right to life, is the primary raison d'etre, or reason for the existence of, all governments. In every branch. Federal and state.
This is the cornerstone principle of this free republic.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men..."
And it is absolutely required by the supreme law of the land, our Constitution, which every officer of government, in every branch, at every level, is absolutely required to swear to support and defend:
"No person shall be deprived of life without due process of law."
"No State shall deprive any person of life without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Absolutely. The fact that so many conservatives think it is ok for the federal government to allow states to permit the killing of innocent persons is very disheartening.