Gordon Copeland Press Release
For Immediate Release
Friday, 12th October 2007

Death Penalty a Right to Life issue? So is Abortion!

Independent MP Gordon Copeland today revealed that his new party, Future New Zealand, will have a constitutional commitment to the right to life.

“Earlier this week, at an event in Parliament to highlight World Day against the Death Penalty, Prime Minister Helen Clark highlighted the fact that the death penalty violates the right to life,” said Mr Copeland.

“On that point we are in full agreement. She neglected, however, to mention that approximately 18,000 unborn children are deprived of their right to life each year, right here in New Zealand, through abortion.”

“I appreciate the difficult issues which arise in relation to abortion, but I think there is now a wide consensus, right across New Zealand, that the current abortion rate is way too high.”

“With that in mind I have drafted an Abortion (Informed Consent) Amendment Bill for the Parliamentary Members’ Bills Ballot. I believe this Bill has the potential to reduce the number of abortions in New Zealand, thus ensuring more of our unborn enjoy the right to life.”

Mr Copeland explained that Future New Zealand has decided to incorporate the right to life in its constitution because the study of human rights shows that they all flow from that one fundamental right.

Ends

© Scoop Media