Editor, Times-Union:

People say the Constitution does not directly address abortion, or does it?

For those who believe that human beings yet to be born do not have standing under the constitution, I beg to differ.  There are two groups to whom the Constitution applies.  This is spelled out in the "Preamble to the Constitution".  This is often over looked but it really gives us insight into what the Constitution is about and more importantly to whom it applies.

The first group to whom it applies is "ourselves." Ourselves would be those that were alive at the signing of the Constitution. Even if we took the viewpoint that that meant only those that were already born at that time, we still have the second group to whom it applies. It is called "our posterity.” Posterity is described in the dictionary as "those that would come after.” There is no denying that any human being, under any stage of development, that has not yet been born would have to be considered "those that would come after" or "our posterity.”

Original intent? What founding father would argue with the fact that their pregnant wife was carrying their posterity?

There you have it. In the very beginning of our Constitutions it states that "We the people ... secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."

I believe that it is only a short matter of time until we see this abhorrent practice of abortion totally banished from our shores. I just pray that the Lord allows me to live until I can see that day.

John Burtoft

Warsaw,  via email