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Parental Rights State by State
We are
excited about our new strategy to protect parental rights. This new path
is in addition to and not instead of our ultimate goal of passing the
Parental Rights Amendment.
Let me remind you of the problems we are trying to solve so that you can see how this new strategy fits in.
1. We need to have parental rights as an explicit fundamental right.
Because our rights have been implied and not in the text of
the Constitution, judges are starting to chip away at the traditional
high level of protection.
2. International Law which threatens our families must be stopped.
There is only one way to achieve both of these goals in one
document: add the Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
But we could achieve important objectives through other legislative
vehicles.
The only way to permanently stop the threat of international law is with a constitutional amendment.
But explicit textual protection for parental rights as a fundamental liberty can also be protected by state statutes. There
are pluses and minuses to state laws. Such laws are easier and faster
to pass. They provide just as much protection when parental rights are
attacked by state or local governments.
On the downside, such laws are easier to amend and repeal.
They don't provide any protection when we are challenged by federal laws
or agencies.
That being said, when I was litigating the Stieler
case in Michigan (social services trying to force parents to continue
cancer treatments after no cancer could be found) I was happy that
Michigan has a very clear parental rights statute on the books. In fact,
I had a hand in writing that law, which was passed in 1994.
The plain fact is that it is a major battle to pass a constitutional amendment. And I
want to achieve as many protections for parents as quickly as we can
while we continue to work on the ultimate goal in Congress.
Michael Farris,
President
Action Items
1. We still need volunteer coordinators in 20 states to help spearhead our efforts there. To check on your state, visit ParentalRights.org/States and click on your state on the map or in the right side bar list. Then email Jonathan
to volunteer. (We have a lot of research to do on the current status of
each state’s laws, so we appreciate your patience if we can’t tell you
right away the status of your state.)
2. We would also appreciate your generous donation to help fund this new project. Simply visit ParentalRights.org/donate to support our fight to secure parents’ rights in every state.
3. We also need to build our base of support in every state.
To help us with that, share Overruled with your friends. Ask them to visit OverruledMovie.com and watch this eye-opening documentary. (And if you haven't watched it yet yourself, watch the 7-minute version to get familiar with its contents.)
Or you can share a flier from our resources page. Simply print out one that speaks to you and share it with a friend.
You can also add a comment on our Facebook fan page so your Facebook friends can see that you are part of the parental rights discussion. It may be enough to inspire them as well.
Ultimately, just invite friends and family to visit us and sign the petition at ParentalRights.org/petition.
Together we can secure parental rights in the Constitution, and in your state as well.
Sincerely,
Michael Ramey
Director of Communications and Research |
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