Posted on 06/03/2007 11:42:27 PM PDT by monomaniac
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Just one week after assisted suicide crusader Jack Kevorkian was released from prison, legislators in California will vote on whether or not to make the state the second to legalize the grisly practice of assisted suicide. A legislative panel approve the bill on Thursday and sent it to the full assembly.
The measure would allow adults who are diagnosed with less than six months to live to ask a physician for the drugs to kill themselves.
Last week the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved AB 374 with a pro forma vote. it was the second panel to back the bill after the House Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 for it back in March.
The California legislature has tried repeatedly to approve an assisted suicide bill but it has never made it out of the House in previous attempts. That could change this year as Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat, has endorsed the measure.
The bill faces an important deadline and proponents must get enough votes for it by June 8 or the measure will be dead for the year. That means a possible vote this week will decide its fate.
Bill May of Catholics for the Common Good told LifeNews.com about the situation and encouraged pro-life advocates to get involved.
"Proponents are trying to sell suicide as a medical treatment under the banner of compassion, but the bill is in fact a malignant attack on the dignity of the person, especially on the lives of the poor and vulnerable" he said.
During the committee hearing, disability rights advocates, seniors groups, and doctors organizations joined pro-life groups in opposing the bill.
"Our side has a good chance of winning but it will depend on how you respond. Please call your Assembly member [and tell] others so that they can actively oppose the bill as well," he said.
He said that volunteers are already leading postcard and petition drives in their parishes to encouraged churchgoers to contact their state lawmakers.
Under the legislation, two doctors would have to declare the patient mentally competent to use the lethal barbiturates and the person would have to submit both an oral and written request for the drugs and undergo a waiting period.
Family members or guardians would not be able to make the decision for a patient and doctors who are opposed to assisted suicide would not be compelled to participate.
Should the House approve the measure, the next battles for pro-life advocates opposed to the bill may be difficult. Senate leader Don Perata, a Democrat, says he's open to the bill, which could open doors there.
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger previously indicated he would veto the bill and said he preferred the voters to decide the fate of assisted suicide in the state.
"I personally think this is a decision probably that should go to the people, like the death penalty and other big issues," the governor said previously. "I don't think 120 legislators and I should make the decision. I think the people should make the decision, and whatever that is, that is what it ought to be."
However, the governor has not ruled out signing it and doesn't side with pro-life advocates on abortion or embryonic stem cell research.
This is the third year in a row that Assembly members Lloyd Levine and Patty Berg, both Democrats, have introduced the legislation, which is patterned after Oregon's first-in-the-nation assisted suicide law.
Thirteen years ago, California voters disapproved an assisted suicide ballot proposal. Voters rejected Proposition 161 by a 54% to 46% margin.
Nationally, Americans are generally split on the issue of assisted suicide.
An August 2005 Pew Research survey found only 44 percent of people "Favor making it legal for doctors to Assist in suicide."
A May 2005 Gallup Poll found a close 49-42 percent split in favor of assisted suicide and a November 2004 CBS News survey determined that Americans were split 46-45 percent on the issue.
ACTION: Speak up against the assisted suicide bill ASAP. You can find your Assembly member and those in the area of your parish by going to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.
Related web sites: Catholic for the Common Good - http://www.ccgaction.org California Pro-Life Council - http://www.californiaprolife.org California state legislature - http://www.legislature.ca.gov Californians Against Assisted Suicide - http://www.ca-aas.com
Cheers!
This would be a good thing for your moral absolutes list!
Can the California Assembly be the first to commit suicide please?
Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
it just mystifies me why leftists are so attracted to death, like moths to flame.
Envy of the Creator of life, that’s all I can think of.
So, why is it inhumane to keep my sick suffering dog alive, but it is immoral to end my own sick, suffering life?
You want to end your sick, suffering life?
As I mentioned on another thread, there are plenty of bridges, cliffs, ropes, guns, poisons, sleeping pills and gas ovens. Have at ‘em!
But death lovers want the stamp of approval of government and “medicine”. Why, one wonders? So that plenty of others will die, often without their desire, as in the Netherlands.
BTW, I think it is cruel to kill animals too - for food or for medical research as well.
The only ones who should get killed are those who kill, rape and kidnap.
But if you want to end your sick, suffering life, you have perfect freedom to do so - even though there will be bad repercussions later (after death). That is your free choice. But your bad choice should not public policy make.
(BTW, what was your previou screen name, I’m curious... you sound so familiar...was it on the evo threads?)
I’m just about ready to pick up and move out.
I’m just about ready to pick up and move out.
I moved out, and I’m glad I did. I first lived in CA in 1969. Been out pretty much since ‘92. Oregon, though beautiful, (and way less people, and real estate cheaper) is extremely socialist, although the rural areas are mostly quite conservative. Most of the state (like 85% approx.) is “publicly” owned - state or fed. So it’s “look but don’t touch”.
Don’t live in the Willamette Valley unless you have very strong lungs. Coast or mountains.
This is, believe it or not, the only screen name I’ve ever had.
So, you are fine with someone killing themselves if they so choose. But what about a situation where a person is incapable of doing so due to injury or illness? Why should their freedom be curtailed?
What about stupid people? Why should their freedom to be a rocket scientist be curtailed?
Why shouldn’t ugly women be able to win beauty contests?
Etc.
Life ain’t fair. Equal outcomes is liberal crap. Committing suicide isn’t a right, it’s a grievous mistake. If someone is unable to commit suicide, too freaking bad. They’re actually the lucky ones. A friend of mine committed suicide and it devastated all who knew him, what to speak of his own eternal future.
Everyone doesn’t have the “right” to do any damn thing they please; if they are unable to physically or mentally accomplish the task. What illogic moves you - because you are attracted by asat (literally “that which is not”), your sharp intelligence is skewed and sees black as white and white as black.
Suicide is a crime against nature; the fact that some who might wish to do it cannot because of physical inability is actually a great good. You are seeing suicide as some kind of “right” like a guarantee. I guess you see Kevorkian as some type of universal hero, then. A modern day Johnny Appleseed.
Ping...
I think Kervorkian is a smart capitalist who’s seen a niche in the marketplace.
The constitution of the United States recognizes that all people are bestowed with an inherent Right to Life by our creator. Inherent in any right is the ability to choose to waive that right.
Thank you. Unfortunately, I am unable to do the Terri posts for the next two days. Hope y’all can help.
I’ve already pinged my moral absolutes list, I don’t know who other than 8mm has the Terri list and he is out galavanting.
Well, let’s hope he can play catch-up :-) I do have to leave for a time.
Really great post!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.