What's next for the anti-abortion crowd?

Sections of the Text of the initiative (for Nov 2006) to amend the Missouri Constitution, titled:

Regulation of Human-Animal Crossbreeds, Cloning, Transhumansim, and Human Engineering Is Reserved to the People

Section 1. Findings Regarding the Threat of Unregulated Human Engineering

1. Scientific discoveries and advances in genetic engineering have now made it possible to clone human beings, to genetically alter human beings for the purpose of eliminating disease or adding new biological features, and to create genetic hybrids using both human and animal genes.

2. Proponents of transhumanism, neoeugenics, and human engineering have proposed ideas that would drastically alter society in known and unknown ways. Among other proposals, proponents of human engineering have suggested the following:
1. the cloning or creation of modified clones that would be mutilated or destroyed to secure organ transplants for the benefit of the original cell donor;
2. the genetic creation of a half-human slave race to serve humankind;
3. the genetic creation of specialized humans who would be designed to undertake dangerous environmental or combat situations;
4. the design of a genetically “superior” super-race with the concurrent elimination of genetically distinct groups of average or sub-average human beings whom proponents of human engineering would classify as genetically inferior.
3. The use of genetic manipulations for the purpose of human engineering would have a profound effect on the structure and nature of families and society.
1. The meaning of human being, person, parent, child, sibling, and family, both in the law and in social relationships, may be profoundly and permanently disturbed by advances in technology that may replace sexual reproduction with laboratory engineering of human beings with gestation in controlled environments.
2. Gene enhancements may lead to profound discrimination, or even interspecies warfare, between normally conceived and born humans and genetically engineered humans.
4. The biological risks and moral implications of human engineering have not been fully ascertained nor is there a consensus among the public regarding the forms of human engineering, if any, that would best benefit society.

5. Mistakes in human engineering can cause irreparable injury to individuals which may be propagated throughout the human species risking injury to untold future generations unless the genetically damaged children are forcibly sterilization or killed.

6. With an increase in the spread of infections from animals to humans and vice-versa, threatening the public health, both domestically and abroad, the creation of human-animal crossbreeds, or chimeras, present a particularly optimal and dangerous means of genetic transfers that could increase the efficiency of transmission and the virulence of diseases threatening both humans and animals.

7. Because scientific advances relevant to human engineering are occurring at a remarkable rate, public discussion of these complex issues cannot lead to a consensus in a time frame sufficient to establish voluntary rules of compliance that adequately protect the society. Without statutory regulations governing human engineering, individuals and corporations with access to this technology can freely engage in human engineering which may result in profound harms to individuals and society.

8. By use of animal and plant species, valuable scientific advances in the field of genetic engineering will continue to proceed at a rapid pace. Human lives and human genetic material are not necessary to the development of the general techniques of genetic engineering.

9. Because of the complex moral, social, legal, familial, and economic issues involved, the decision to use genetic engineering techniques on human beings should not be left to the individual discretion of those who develop or have access to these technologies. These issues, and the conditions under which these technologies can be used, must most properly be resolved in the electorate and in the legislative bodies of their elected representatives.

10. Based on the above findings, it is the purpose of this Article to erect a general prohibition against any genetic alteration of human beings, destructive experiments on human beings, and the artificial creation of life forms containing human genes with exceptions for specific technologies that are hereby specifically approved by the people of Missouri or may in the future be approved by means of amendments to this Article.

(bill continues with definitions and penalties)

This isn't anti-abortion, this is anti-screwing-with-the-human-genome. Basically, it says "We're worried about this, so don't do it until we reach a consensus on what to do about it.

Gattaca was a terrific movie!

"and to create genetic hybrids using both human and animal genes." ...


Does this mean there could be catgirls in RL?

I'm absolutely against such cavalier, dangerous, provocative and ah... ah... incredibly cute bioengineering!

Sort of, rather. I think.

It ties in because the initiators of this proposed amendment are the Elliot Institute

http://www.elliotinstitute.org/

which I find while cruising anti-abortion links.
http://www.afterabortion.info/biograp.html

I'm mainly curious to find out what people think about this because I think this is the direction the whole "Life vs. Choice" debate is going to evolve in the years ahead.

Here's an intriguing report on the long-term possibilities of regenerative medicine (which among other things, involves the use of stem-cell therapies, gene therapy, and nanotechnology).

http://www.hhs.gov/reference/FutureofRegenerativeMedicine.pdf

"EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Regenerative medicine is the next evolution of medical treatments. Derived
from the fields of tissue engineering, tissue science, biology, biochemistry,
physics, chemistry, applied engineering and other fields, regenerative
medicine is the first truly interdisciplinary field that utilizes and brings
together nearly every field in science. This new field holds the realistic
promise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in vivo (in the living
body) through reparative techniques that stimulate previously irreparable
organs into healing themselves. Regenerative medicine also empowers
scientists to grow tissues and organs in vitro (in the laboratory) and safely
implant them when the body is unable to be prompted into healing itself.
This revolutionary technology has the potential to develop therapies for
previously untreatable diseases and conditions. Examples of diseases
regenerative medicine can cure include diabetes, heart disease, renal failure,
osteoporosis and spinal cord injuries. Virtually any disease that results from
malfunctioning, damaged, or failing tissues may be potentially cured through
regenerative medicine therapies. Having these tissues available to treat sick
patients creates the concept of “tissues for life.”

Declaring gravity inconsistent with the bible and thus legislating it out of existence.

Of course, gravity will still be desired but will only be available in clandestine, underground, "falleasies" where you'll need to know the password and sometimes the gravity will be toxic. Those who provide for the manufacture or distribution of gravity will be called outlaws, will realize obscene black market profits and will come to dominate entire cities through brutality and graft. For some unknown reason, Chicago will be completely unaffected by this gravity-prohibition era lawlessness.