The op-ed that I sent to the newspapers in Missouri didn’t get picked up, as I expected. So, I went with just a letter to the editor. I am actually very sorry to admit that this is the first letter to the editor I have written about the amendment – or ever for that matter – and the election is next week! It is a sad fact that I just do not read the newspaper. I don’t know why. Especially since, as mom always reminds me, it only takes about 5 minutes to read our local paper – front to back. But last week mom pointed out one of the letters to the editor in favor of the amendment and I decided that it was probably time to respond, finally. Feel free to customize it and use it in your own newspaper:

I am a 24 year old Missourian who is also a paraplegic. I received a spinal cord injury in a car accident almost seven years ago that left me paralyzed from the chest down. I have thoroughly read the 2,000 words of Amendment 2, that you will not see on the ballot on Election Day. There are three areas of the amendment that cause me great concern.

1. “No person may clone or attempt to clone a human being” 2(1). Sounds great, however, the scientific definition of cloning is Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, which is the process used to asexually create a human embryo. This amendment would specifically allow research on “human stem cells derived from…somatic cell nuclear transfer” 6(5). What is banned is to “implant in a uterus” the product of SCNT 6(2). Human cloning has nothing to do with implantation.

2. State funding: “no state or local government body or official shall eliminate, reduce, deny, or withhold any public funds provided or eligible to be provided to a person that lawfully conducts stem cell research, (5).”

3. No legislative oversight: “[A]ll state and local laws…and other governmental actions shall be construed in favor of the conduct of stem cell research…No state or local law…shall (i) prevent, restrict, obstruct, or discourage any stem cell research…or (ii) create disincentives for…such research, (7).”

The creation and destruction of human embryos will be the highest law of the sate and we will be paying for it.

We do not need a constitutional amendment to provide Missourians with stem cell therapies and cures. This research is already perfectly legal in Missouri. This amendment seeks to protect the biotech industry from the possibility of future “discouraging” legislation. Protect our Constitution. Please join me in voting NO on Amendment 2.