Ohio Personhood says Life Begins at Conception

A push to amend the Ohio Constitution to declare that life begins when a human egg is fertilized is being spearheaded locally.

Doctor Patrick Johnston of Dresden is a spokesperson for the group Personhood Ohio. The group is currently working to reword their proposed summary after Attorney General Mike Dewine rejected it.

"In the wording of our amendment we’ll make it plain this will not affect contraception, that acts by preventing conception, this will not affect in vitro fertilization as long as they don’t intentionally destroy human embryos, and so it strengthens our amendment," said Johnston.

To resubmit their proposal the group must collect another 1,000 valid signatures from Ohio Voters. The group’s wording must then be approved before it can collect the 385,000 signatures needed for the amendment to appear on the 2012 Ballots.

"We need to help children that are unwanted in homes," said Johnston. "Even unwanted children have the right to life and that right begins when their life begins. Scientifically the evidence is clear, life begins at conception."

Johnston said the mission of Personhood Ohio is to protect every unborn person in the state.