Proposition 115 would prohibit abortions in Colorado after 22 weeks.

Proposition 115 would prohibit abortions in Colorado after 22 weeks unless an abortion is immediately necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman. The measure will protect viable human beings. At 22 weeks gestation, a baby can survive outside the mother’s womb when they are born prematurely. Even babies born at 21 weeks can survive with good developmental outcomes.

At 22 weeks, the mother can feel her baby “kick”. At this stage, babies can react to their mother’s voice and touch, they can blink, open/close their mouth, stick out their tongue, smile, and grimace, and they can suck their thumbs. Late-term babies in the womb can learn to recognize music and acquire tastes for food. A 22-week pre-born baby is biologically indistinguishable from a baby born at 22 weeks gestation. Just like a newborn, these babies can feel pain. In fact, their pain sensitivity may even be higher than that of an older infant.

According to a recent Gallop poll, 74% of Americans believe that there should be limitations on late-term abortion. Even most supporters of abortion believe that late-term abortion is not necessary or ethical. A majority of Americans feel abortion should be illegal after the first trimester. Only 18% of Democrats, 13% of Independents, and 6% of Republicans support the legality of third-trimester abortion. Most Americans want commonsense limits. That’s what Proposition 115 would do.

Even when we talk about tragic situations, where babies are diagnosed with fetal abnormalities or life-threatening conditions, we need to think about basic human dignity. In no other life situation do we get the choice to end another person’s life because she will suffer if we don’t kill her. Even if a father found out that his two-year-old would die from a heart defect at the age of five, he doesn’t get to end her life early. That’s not something we do to adults or children and we don’t have the right to do it to babies.

Modern medicine has come a long way, and medical professionals’ ability to treat human beings in need is amazing. Modern medicine is one of the reasons that babies at 22 weeks are considered “viable” today. Viability means these babies have the ability to survive outside their mother’s womb, given proper care. In fact, Britain has recognized 22 weeks as the new age of viability.  The youngest surviving baby in the United States, born at 21 weeks, is now a healthy girl about to enter preschool. Most people agree that when a baby can survive outside the womb, it shouldn’t be legal to abort her for any reason at all. But that’s what Colorado allows — abortion until the day of birth, with no restrictions, for any reason whatsoever, and time for us to end this outdated practice.

Vote YES on Proposition 115

Stephen Monroe

Gypsum, CO

[1] http://www.doctorsonfetalpain.com/

[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/health-50144741

[3] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/11/14/mom-delivers-earliest-premature-baby-ever-and-chooses-resuscitate-miracle-aughter-now-healthy-toddle/861386001/