What does Declaration of Independence say about abortion?

An article in the Daily Inter Lake in January said that Sen. Max Baucus’s leftover campaign account held by the Friends of Max Baucus donated $5,000 to “Emily’s List,” a Washington group that helps elect women who support abortion rights. This article compelled me to give my opinion against abortion and present the truth that’s in the Declaration of Independence.

I think we need to compare the difference in what’s in the Declaration of Independence, the foundation document for America, against what’s in the 14th Amendment, the foundation for civil rights, which was ratified July 9, 1868.

The Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, (which means it’s so obvious, so rational, and so morally sound that their authenticity is beyond reasonable dispute) that all men are created equal (creation starts at conception when life begins and precedes birth), that they are endowed by their Creator (God) with certain  unalienable rights (rights that cannot be taken away or violated without the offender coming under the judgment and wrath of the Creator) that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (the three most important of the unalienable rights).”  

The 14th Amendment says, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States and also of the state wherein they reside.” This is the foundation for civil rights.

What does this tell us? It tells us that only persons “born” have any civil rights. If you are not yet born, you have no civil rights. In the Declaration of Independence, at creation, you have the unalienable right to life. It’s very clear, no matter how you look at it, the moment of creation (conception), precedes the moment of birth.

I am of the opinion that the intent of the 1868 14th Amendment was not about abortion, it was more about bringing the just freed slaves under control of the federal government. Abortion did not really come into the picture until some 105 years later with the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court case which was filed on behalf of a pregnant single woman who challenged a Texas law that permitted abortion only to save the life of the mother. At the time of the Supreme Court decision, 30 states had laws similar to the Texas law.

The research of the Supreme Court made no mention of the Declaration of Independence. Although their research went all the way back to ancient Greece and Roman law, they failed to pay attention to our Declaration of Independence.

The Supreme Court based its decision on the whims of men (opinion and theory), the “due process” clause of the 14th Amendment, and the current trend and way of thinking.  Because the 14th Amendment was poorly written, it has required more legislation and judicial proceedings than any other provision in the U.S. Constitution.

If abortion laws are to be changed in this country by Congress with appropriate legislation, we have to pay attention to the Declaration of Independence — it’s the “document” that can bring this about. It’s still the Founding Father’s organic law for America and the foundation for the United States Constitution with the original Bill of Rights. So help us God.

Kimberlin is a resident of Libby.