Pro Personhood Bill Supporters Host Petition Drive To Revive Bill

Two separate bills aimed at defining life at conception likely won't pass though the Oklahoma Legislature, but supporters say they aren't giving up yet.

A petition drive is now underway to gather the 155,000 signatures needed to put the measure up for a public vote. The ACLU however has already filed a lawsuit to stop the ballot initiative and Friday filed a brief outlining why.

The Oklahoma Personhood movement wants to define life as beginning at conception. And this legislative session supporters tried passing two bills that would have done that. Both now show little prospect of passing.

"It's about life and people are guaranteed the right to life," said Rep. Mike Reynolds R-Oklahoma City.

4/20/2012 Related Story: Supporters Determined To Push Some Version Of Personhood Bill Through State Legislature

Reynolds who authored the house resolution isn't giving up. He's one of three petitioners gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution.

"Ultimately the goal is to understand that life begins at conception and then they would never have a desire to abort again," said Reynolds.

But the ACLU has already filed a lawsuit to stop the initiative saying it's a waste of time and money.

"We know any effort to ban abortions outright in the state of Oklahoma is unconstitutional on its face," said Ryan Kiesel with ACLU of Oklahoma.

If passed, the ACLU says initiative would outlaw abortions on all levels and take away the most basic rights of women.

"No exceptions for rape or incest, but it could also ban common forms of contraception. It could also entirely do away with what we look at IVF, invitro fertilization, in Oklahoma," said Kiesel.

Reynolds says the constitutional amendment would not change any Oklahoma laws, but it would force legislators to rewrite current state statues as it relates to this new definition of life.

The Oklahoma Supreme court is now considering the case.