Colorado Amendment 48 (2008)

Colorado Amendment 48 is a proposed initiative to amend the definition of a person to "any human being from the moment of fertilization."

The initiative was proposed jointly by Kristine Burton and Michael Burton^[1] of Colorado for Equal Rights.^[2]

This definition applies to all sections of Colorado law, thus giving a fetus the equal rights of life, liberty, and property as another person would.^[3]

Text of the Proposal

Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1. Article II of the constitution of the state of Colorado is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:

Section 31. Person defined. AS USED IN SECTIONS 3, 6, AND 25 OF ARTICLE II OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THE TERMS "PERSON" OR "PERSONS" SHALL INCLUDE ANY HUMAN BEING FROM THE MOMENT OF FERTILIZATION.^[4]

Controversy

Colorado Right to Life supports the amendment.^[5] One source claims there is a bipartisan opposition ^[6] -- Planned Parenthood and 2008 Colorado Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Mark Udall are joined by pro-life Democratic Governor Bill Ritter, National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), and Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer.

Results

Amendment 48[7]
Choice	Votes	Percentage
No	1,691,165	73.21%
Yes	618,761	26.79%
Total votes	2,309,926	100.00%

References

1. ^ Statement of Sufficiency (pdf). Secretary of State. State of Colorado. May 29, 2008.
2. ^ Personhood Initiative '08. Colorado for Equal Rights.
3. ^ Brown, Jennifer. "Personhood" Amendment Fails. Denver Post. November 4, 2008.
4. ^ Amendment 48: Definition of Person (pdf). Colorado General Assembly.
5. ^ Vote Yes on 48. Colorado Right to Life.
6. ^ Jorgensen, Leslie. Amendment 48: Opposition galvanizes Democrats, Republicans. Colorado Statesman. October 10, 2008.
7. ^ "Canvass Results - General Election 2008". Secretary of State of Colorado. http://coreports.ezvotetally.com/CanvassReportCumulative/tabid/59/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2009-06-24.