To the Editor:
Lies: Seeing all the “vote no on issue 1 signs” around Bowling Green tells me that many have been deceived into thinking that is a “way to save the Ohio Constitution.” Wrong. Here are the facts, the truth:
First, the Aug. 8 special election is for the purpose of raising the needed votes from 50%+1 to 60% to add a permanent amendment to Ohio’s Constitution, and would require signatures from all 88 counties instead of 44 currently.
Why does that matter? So that out-of-state special interests cannot easily change Ohio’s Constitution. Amendments bypass the Constitution itself, the governor, the Ohio Supreme Court and the Ohio Assembly.
Why a special election now? Because Planned Parenthood and the ACLU have obtained enough signatures in Ohio to put the Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety Amendment on our November ballot. They have funneled over $100 million into Ohio hoping to ensure easy passage of the November amendment to change our State Constitution.
While the U.S. Constitution has been amended only 27 times, Ohio’s Constitution been amended 174 times. Most states have a 60% requirement. Thirty-two states do not allow Constitutional amendments at all from citizen-initiated petitions. There should always be a broad consensus of citizens to amend any Constitution, not a slim majority.
Second, just what is on the November amendment? Despite its vague and manipulative language, this amendment would (1) allow abortion up to birth so that fully formed, viable babies who can feel pain just like you can be dismembered and aborted; (2) allow rapists, traffickers and abusers to take victims for abortions which your tax dollars would pay for; and (3) require no parental notification or consent for their child to obtain an abortion and even sex-change surgery.
Why are Planned Parenthood and the ACLU doing this in Ohio? Because “As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.” This state is known as America’s “pilot or test” state. If the November amendment passes here, it won’t be long until it will be passed across the country. So much for reversal of Roe vs Wade. Sadly, it seems that evil will always find a nefarious way.
If you care about Ohio, protections and safety for families, parents, women, children and babies, then you must vote “yes” on Aug. 8 and “no” in November.
Barbara Brunner
Bowling Green
