There is a lot of misinformation going around about Amendment #1, the Love Life Amendment. Let’s clear it up.
— Amendment #1 simply ensures that Louisiana judges cannot establish a right to abortion or the tax-funding of abortion in the Louisiana Constitution. It keeps abortion out of our state constitution and in the democratic process through our elected state legislators.
— Amendment #1 does not ban any form of abortion. It only answers the question of whether judges or legislators should decide policy on abortion. All other matters remain in the democratic process through our elected state legislators. Even if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned, Amendment #1 would not stop state legislators from legalizing abortion.
— Amendment #1 does not ban commonly-debated exceptions to abortion such as rape and incest. Since Amendment #1 just keeps abortion policy in the democratic process through our elected state legislators rather than state judges, these matters can still be debated and legislated at the State Capitol.
— While Amendment #1 does not specify what exceptions to abortion should and should not be allowed, it is important to clarify that Louisiana law currently includes exceptions to the termination of a pregnancy when it comes to the situation where the “life of the mother” is in danger. See RS 40.1061(F) In those situations, state law permits physicians to take action to end a pregnancy with a reasonable effort to save the life of both the mother and the baby.
— Amendment #1 has nothing to do with naturally-occurring miscarriages. State law differentiates between abortion (the intention killing of a living unborn baby) and naturally-occurring miscarriages (often referred to as “spontaneous abortion”). RS 40:1061.9(1)(b) makes it abundantly clear that induced abortion does not include the removal of the deceased unborn child in these cases. Our hearts go out to those women and families who have suffered the pain of miscarriage.
Too often, judges make decisions to take the issue of abortion OUT of the hands of citizens and their legislators. Vote YES on Amendment #1 to keep abortion OUT of our state constitution!