H.J.R. 10

1

RESOLUTION URGING FEDERAL
2 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT
3 THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN
4 2002 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: Glenn L. Way
7 This joint resolution urges the United States Congress to send to the states a constitutional
8 amendment protecting the life of the unborn.
9 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
10 WHEREAS, life is the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these
11 truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with
12 certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.";
13 WHEREAS, it is estimated that since Roe v. Wade, the 1973 United States Supreme
14 Court's decision legalizing abortion, no other issue has triggered more divisive and passionate
15 debate among the people of the United States which continues today;
16 WHEREAS, since the Roe v. Wade decision nearly 43 million abortions have been
17 performed in the United States;
18 WHEREAS, statistics show that between 3,500 and 3,700 abortions are performed annually
19 in the state of Utah;
20 WHEREAS, scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that the life of a human being begins
21 at conception;
22 WHEREAS, all human beings, born and unborn, have a fundamental, individual right to
23 life which cannot be infringed upon;
24 WHEREAS, most abortions performed are merely the means to terminating an unwanted
25 pregnancy;
26 WHEREAS, on October 30, 1999, in Nashville, Tennessee, an extremely delicate but
27 successful spinal operation was performed on a 21-week old fetus still young enough to be legally

28 aborted, and focused the nation's attention on the viability and sanctity of an unborn human life;
29 WHEREAS, there is a growing number of individuals who, prior to their birth, survived
30 abortion procedures, enjoy happy and productive lives today, and stand as living proof that life,
31 when permitted to continue in its natural course, is filled with limitless possibilities in contrast to
32 its termination by abortion;
33 WHEREAS, many Americans on both sides of the abortion issue consider it equal in
34 importance to other basic issues resolved in previous amendments to the constitution such as free
35 speech and the abolition of slavery; and
36 WHEREAS, beyond the rhetoric of whether the issue should be framed as the right to life
37 or the right to choose, it is fitting that the ultimate decision on this serious and weighty question
38 should be determined by those who must respond most directly to the voice of the people:
39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah strongly
40 urge the United States Congress to send to the states an amendment to the United States
41 Constitution protecting the life of the unborn.
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the
43 United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members
44 of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 10-22-01 9:14 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel