“The government shall not deny or infringe upon a person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom...” Such are the opening words to the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.”
The petition for the initiative — should it gain enough signatures — will then move on to be certified by the state for the voters to decide.
On Saturday, volunteers will be set up outside of the New Life Christian Church at 301 N. Main St. in Poplar Bluff for the purpose of helping people sign the petition, should they need the assistance.
Jean Cross explained the petition is simply to get the matter onto the ballot.
“If the petition passes the state requirements, it will then go to the ballot for Missourians to decide,” Cross explained. “The voters will decide whether or not a woman has the right to make her own health care decisions.”
Cross went on to explain that the issue is difficult for many — and not just because the issue of abortion is so controversial.
“We’re talking about serious medical issues,” she noted. “We’re talking about women who are being sent home with ectopic pregnancies, and serious medical complications as a result of pregnancy, and those pregnancies can’t be terminated because it’s considered an ‘abortion.’”
If passed by Missouri voters, the Missouri constitution would be amended to say reproductive freedom “...including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.”
Cross, and other volunteers, will be available to explain the requirements for a signature to be considered valid; and copies of the proposed amendment will be available upon request.
“We’ll be set up somewhere outside of the church as a matter of respect,” Cross stated. “It’s more of a respect thing, because we understand there are likely some members of that church that might not be happy if we were set up inside the church with the petition.”