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Life
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Family
Ethics
Political
Action
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Survey Response:
Direct threats to human life include first of all abortion, which takes the lives of well over a million US children annually; embryonic stem cell harvesting; euthanasia; and cloning. Additional threats to human life include poverty, capital punishment, racism, war, nuclear arms proliferation and exploitation. Since each and every human being is unique and important, one's personhood or worth should not be arbitrarily determined by another's choice. No one exists solely as a means to someone else's happiness. The choices we make, as individuals and as a society, must be weighed in light of their impact on human life and dignity. Do you acknowledge both the breadth of pro life issues, and the primacy of some of those issues, namely abortion, embryonic stem cell harvesting, euthanasia, and cloning? Yes ABORTION Do you believe that a unique human life begins at conception? Yes If not, when? n/a ___ 3 mths ___ 6 mths ___ At Birth ___ 1 yr ___18 yrs? Is taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever morally permissible? Check all that apply: _____ No, it's never permissible __X__ Yes, to save mother's life _____ Yes, in cases of rape or incest _____ Yes, for physical deformity _____ Yes, for gender _____ Yes, for race _____ Yes, to punish spouse _____ Yes, it's always permissible CONSTITUTION The 14th Amendment states "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 1973, stated that "if this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment." The Court regrettably concluded though that "we need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer." Do you believe that the State has a compelling interest in protecting human life beginning at conception? Yes PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN ABORTION Peer reviewed studies have shown that parental involvement laws reduce the occurrence of risky sex in teens, and more than 30 states currently have some form of them. Either the teen refrains from engaging in sex or is more careful before having sex. These laws help teen mothers and fathers get the support and guidance they need from parents in this important decision. Not having them risks parental estrangement or alienation from the child when in the greatest need and denies the dignity of the family. Minors already must have parental approval for even the most minor types of medical procedures or medications and should also for the complex procedure of abortion. Without parental involvement, a minor impregnated by an adult often times is pressured into having an abortion so as to conceal the fact that the adult is guilty of statutory rape. A 2013 poll commissioned by Human Life WA, found Washington State voters are widely supportive of laws requiring "parental involvement" in abortion decisions for girls under the age of 18 (62-29% with just under 10% undecided). Read a summary of the results here. Will you promote/support parental involvement laws (with judicial override) for minors when seeking an abortion? Yes PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE Washington State Initiative 1000 which was passed in 2008, legalized Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) by allowing doctors to prescribe lethal doses of barbiturates to certain patients. One objection to this sanctioning of suicide is that some vulnerable persons, such as those who are feeble, depressed, mentally ill, or handicapped, will likely experience coercion to end their lives. For them a right to die, already protected in the Natural Death Act, (RCW 70.122), may become a duty to die. The American Medical Association (policy H-140.952) as well as the Washington State Medical Association (2007 Resolution A-7) oppose PAS. The AMA states that "physician assisted suicide is fundamentally inconsistent with the physician's professional role." The initiative uses vague language that enable doctors "acting in good faith" to assist mentally ill or depressed patients to commit suicide, while protecting doctors from civil and criminal lawsuits. Health care insurers can cut costs by providing prescriptions for suicide. Will society's sanction of suicide have unintended consequences? Sponsor and former governor Booth Gardner says that this is only a “first step” in legalizing assisted suicide for anyone who wants it. When society fails to protect vulnerable people in their troubles, but instead offers them the violence of suicide, has not society abandoned them? What is your position on physician assisted suicide? _____ Support __X__ Oppose _____ No Opinion _____ Other: MARRIAGE PRESERVATION In June of 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that states must recognize same sex marriage nationwide. Opponents claim that this puts the aspirations of adults over the rights of children, who develop best within the context of a biologically related family. This optimal development is a scientifically proven fact which the Washington State Supreme Court referenced when in 2006, it ruled on the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The court determined that the state's limitation of marriage to heterosexual couples "is constitutional because the legislature was entitled to believe that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers ... the well-being of children by encouraging families where children are reared in homes headed by the children’s biological parents." What is your position on the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling that states must recognize same sex marriage nationwide? _____ Support __X__ Oppose _____ No Opinion _____ Other: MEDICAL CONSCIENCE CLAUSES "The trend toward accepting the termination of some human lives as a normal part of medicine is accelerating ... Courts, policymakers, media leaders - even the elites of organized medicine - increasingly assert that patient rights and respect for patients’ choices should trump the consciences of medical professionals. Indeed, the time may soon arrive when doctors, nurses, and pharmacists will be compelled to take, or be complicit in the taking of, human life, regardless of their strong religious or moral objections thereto." (Westlie J. Smith, 2009). Should doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals be granted the right to refuse participation in the provision of medical services that violate the person's moral, ethical or religious beliefs? Yes DEATH PENALTY The death penalty in the United States should: _____ Not be used __X__ Be used about the same _____ Be used less _____ Be used more _____ Other: REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA Recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington State in 2012 by Initiative 502. The drug though is considered dangerous by many, including the FDA, the AMA, and The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The White House Office of National Drug Policy opposes the legalization of the drug for public health reasons. Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) states "The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana in our communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society." The Alaska Association of Police Chief describe some of the negative aspects of legalizing the drug here. For additional dangers see here, here and here. What is your position on the legal production, processing and sale of recreational marijuana in Washington State? _____ Support __X__ Oppose _____ No Opinion _____ Other: QUALIFICATIONS AND COMMENTS What office (district and position) are you running for? WA 3rd Congressional District Please state your qualifications for office such as professional, educational, family and community accomplishments. You may also add any any further comments regarding the relationship of your candidacy to respect life issues. One of the strongest positions a member of Congress regularly takes with regard to life is whether or not to use federal taxpayer money to fund organizations that have the taking of life as part of their mission. I WILL NOT VOTE TO FUND such organizations. This means that I will not vote in favor of an omnibus funding bill (and for many years, the omnibus bills have included such funding) nor would I vote in favor of supplemental funding for such organizations. Do you have a campaign website? What is the address? Yes. EarlBowerman.com; also please reference my campaign Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/earlforcongress/ and my YouTube videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC40ADJfGJwNRh32VeVbfSUQ?view_as=subscriber WEBSITE POSTING PERMISSION May Life PAC post your survey response on its website? Surveys are posted only with your permission. Yes.
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