Two Major Attacks on Parental Rights

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October 2, 2012 Two Major Attacks on Parental Rights Last month 13 New York City Public Schools began dispensing levonorgestrel – called “Plan B” or “the morning after pill” – without requiring parental notification or consent. And on September 12 Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed into law Senate Bill 234, making Delaware the first state to outlaw corporal discipline of children by their parents. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Patricia Blevins (District 7), SB 234 adds the infliction of “pain” to the definition of “physical injury.” While physical injury is understandably prohibited under Delaware law, now any parent who knowingly causes their child pain can face up to a year in prison – two years for a felony if the child is aged three or under. A 2010 Zogby poll found that 85.1% of Americans agree with “parents having the legal option to give their child a modest spanking.” However, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which oversees implementation of the eponymous convention, has interpreted that treaty to outlaw all corporal discipline. Still, many of the nations who drafted and ratified the treaty continue to disagree with that interpretation, instead honoring the same standard recognized here in the United States. Except that now Delaware parents who exercise that right will be breaking the law. NYC Public Schools to Dispense "Plan B" Meanwhile, any girl 14 or over in New York City whose parents do not send in a specific opt-out form can receive “Plan B” from the school nurse without parental consent. Under federal law the drug, which prevents implantation of a fetus if taken within 72 hours of sexual activity, is not permitted to girls under 17 years old without a prescription, due to lack of study of its effects on under-age consumers. “We can’t give out a Tylenol without a doctor’s order,” a school staffer is quoted as saying by the New York Post. “Why should we give out hormonal preparations with far more serious possible side effects, such as blood clots and hypertension?” Many parents are also complaining that they have never seen any notice or the opt-out form. “A simple opt-out provision is not sufficient safe-guard to protect the right of parents, the responsibility of parents, to be informed and involved in these vital life-changing decisions in the lives of their children,” warns constitutional lawyer and ParentalRights.org President Michael Farris. “Taking loving parents out of the equation does inestimable damage to our young people." Each of these demonstrates what we have warned of for the past several years: Parental rights in America are being eroded. But taking both events together, we begin to get a picture of America’s future if we fail to adopt the Parental Rights Amendment. The Time to Act Is Now “For those waiting for something bad to happen before they will support the Parental Rights Amendment, it has,” Farris warns. “The time to say, ‘We don’t need it yet – call me when the problem is acute,’ is over.” The time for action is now. Only by adding to the text of the United States Constitution that “the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right” can we halt the trend toward law and policies that would rob parents of their role as the primary source of guidance and support for their child. Protecting children is our ultimate goal, and we believe that empowering parents – not sidestepping them – is the best way to reach that goal. So if you have not yet signed the petition at ParentalRights.org, please do so today. Become part of the movement to secure the Amendment and preserve the traditional role of parents for future generations. When you sign, you will have the opportunity to join our email list for future alerts to help you take action as part of the solution. (You can unsubscribe at any time.) Once you have signed up, please forward this email to as many friends as you can. Every American parent needs to know that their rights are threatened – and that they’re already beginning to disappear. Only the Parental Rights Amendment can protect your right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of your child. And you know your child is better protected by you – the loving parent – than by any judge or bureaucrat. Register to Vote Then you need to take one final action to preserve parental rights: If you are not already registered to vote, you need to register now and vote on November 6. The deadline to register varies by state, but most are coming up in the next 2 weeks. Seven states have Oct. 6 deadlines; another 16 states and D.C. require registration by the 9th. Only North Dakota does not require voter registration; every other state has an October deadline. There is no greater impact you can have on our country than to register and vote for candidates who will support and protect parental rights. Please register today, before it is too late to be part of the solution this year. Thank you for standing with us to preserve parental rights for this and future generations! Sincerely, Michael Ramey Director of Communications & Research

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