New Parental Rights Amendment Would Prevent a Baby Like Charlie Gard Dying in the U.S.

National   |   Texas Right to Life   |   Aug 2, 2017   |   3:24PM   |   Austin, Texas

A group of pro-life senators in the U.S. Senate have introduced a new parental rights amendment that would prevent a baby like Charlie Gard from being killed in the United States.

Gard died in the United Kingdom shortly after his life support was removed after a months-long legal battle which saw the hospital that was supposed to provide him care going to court to fight to end his life over his parents’ objections. Leading pro-life organizations and the brother of Terri Schiavo fought alongside Charlie’s Family to protect his right to live and to receive an experimental treatment that could improve his condition.

However, Charlie’s parent’s rights were usurped by the court system and the legislation these pro-life senators are proposing would prevent that here in the United States.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to propose a Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Graham’s Senate joint resolution had four original cosponsors at its introduction on Tuesday, August 1: Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Jim Risch (R-ID). The resolution will receive a bill number later this week.

“We are gratified to see this crucial amendment introduced in the U.S. Senate for the fifth straight Congress,” declared ParentalRights.org President Jim Mason, a proponent of the resolution. “If the recent Charlie Gard tragedy in the UK showed us anything it is that children are better served when loving parents make the important decisions about their care.”

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The Amendment, which would provide that “[t]he liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right,” requires a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress to go to the states for ratification. This means bipartisan support will be necessary for its passage.

“The Parental Rights Amendment should absolutely have bipartisan support,” according to Detroit-area family law attorney Allison Folmar. “And the consensus among the American people is that it does have that support. Now we’re looking to Congress to reflect that reality.”

The NFL’s 2005 MVP, Shaun Alexander, is also among those supporting the Amendment effort. Alexander is vice-president of ParentalRights.org.

“The Parental Rights Amendment will protect the greatest team ever assembled—the family. Let’s pass this amendment and let’s protect the family,” Alexander said in a recent release to the organization. “I want to thank South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham for his leadership in introducing this amendment, and I want to thank Senators Risch, Blunt, and Isakson for standing up for parents and children across this great nation as original cosponsors of the Parental Rights Amendment.”

Senators interested in cosponsoring the measure should contact Senator Graham’s office.

Leading pro-life advocates helped Charlie’s parents fight for his life.

Charlie’s parents brought Terri Schiavo’s brother Bobby Schindler to London to help them fight for care for their son. Schindler spoke with LifeNews exclusively about their invitation.

Schindler told LifeNews: “We are here by invitation from the family to come alongside them as they struggle to save their son, Charlie. The critical issue here is not a political one, but the simple notion that families know what is best for their loved ones.”

“Charlie’s situation is very reminiscent of my family’s battle to save my sister, Terri. Hopefully being here can help his parents, Connie and Charlie, deal with the day-to-day emotional roller coaster, as they fight for their son’s right to live,” Schindler added.