In addition to selecting our governor, constitutional officers and lawmakers like me, voters in the November 6 general election will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on four proposed statewide amendments to our 1901 Alabama Constitution.
Amendment Two on the ballot allows all of us to take a stand in support of the traditional morals and values that make Alabama such a special place to live, work and worship.
In my role as state representative, I voted in favor of Amendment Two when it came before the Alabama House, and I plan to support it again on Election Day.
I urge you to do the same.
The intent of the amendment is simple. It affirms that Alabama is a pro-life state and that our state constitution does not recognize a right to abortion.
Under current federal law that was set by the U.S. Supreme Court in the wrongheaded Roe v. Wade decision, the ability to seek an abortion is constitutionally protected, so passage of Amendment Two would have no immediate public policy effect.
But if Roe v. Wade is overturned, which is becoming increasingly popular with the addition of conservative justices like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, Amendment Two allows Alabama to take swift and immediate action in protecting unborn life. Exceptions for cases of rape, incest or life of the mother would still be allowed to exist.
While a majority of Alabamians oppose abortion and wish to preserve unborn life, ultra-liberal special interest groups like Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Feminist Majority Foundation are working to defeat our historic opportunity to defend the most defenseless among us. These liberal groups have also endorsed Democrat candidates for governor, Congress and the Legislature here, in Alabama.
According to campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State, out-of-state leftist groups have donated almost $1 million to a Planned Parenthood PAC working against Amendment Two in order to preserve the abortion mill industry. The PAC is deceptively titled “Alabama for Healthy Families.”
Planned Parenthood, as you may recall, is the group that was caught discussing and advocating the sale of aborted fetal body parts during a hidden camera sting conducted by a conservative group.
The same leftist organizations that attacked Justice Brett Kavanaugh and attempted to destroy his life with unfounded, uncorroborated, decades-old accusations from his youth have now turned their full attention toward Alabama and defeating Amendment Two. These groups will spread distortions and misinformation in order to defeat the amendment just as they tried to defeat the Kavanaugh nomination.
The choice is clear. Alabamians can side with unborn life and support Amendment Two, or they can side with Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the abortion industry by voting against it.
While out-of-state liberals are opposing this commonsense amendment, conservative groups within the state are working on a grassroots level to ratify it. The Alabama Republican Party, the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alliance for a Pro-Life Alabama are just a few of the groups that have endorsed the passage of Amendment Two.
Alabama’s Fair Ballot Commission was formed by the Legislature in 2014 in order to provide voters with a non-partisan, unbiased, and easy-to-understand description of constitutional amendments that come before voters.
Because you should have the information necessary to make an informed decision about Amendment Two, I am providing the commission’s description of the referendum measure, which reads:
“Amendment 2 provides that it would be the public policy of the state to recognize and support the importance of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life; and to protect the rights of unborn children. Additionally, the amendment would make clear that the state constitution does not include a right to abortion or require the funding of an abortion using public funds.”
Let’s stand up and represent our traditional morals and Alabama values, but, more importantly, let’s stand together and support the rights of unborn babies.
I would appreciate your support for Amendment Two — millions of children yet to be born would appreciate it, as well.
U.S. State Rep. Joe Faust is a Republican from Fairhope.
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