Jackson Free Press

I do not consider myself to be pro-life, and I opposed the Personhood Initiative, but the article by Brian McGowan ("The Attack on Republicanism," Vol. 10, Issue 26) offended my sense of logic.

Mr. McGowan lauds our system of republicanism because "once the people have spoken on an issue, it has been decided." It is therefore incredibly ironic (something that is clearly lost on Mr. McGowan) that he proceeds to attack people trying to legislate on abortion.

The legality of abortion was decided 39 years ago not by "the people," but nine U.S. Supreme Court justices. The people who are trying to pass the Personhood Initiative are trying to do exactly what Mr. McGowan supports in theory but apparently not in practice: trying to get "the people to decide something."

Another point that is totally lost on Mr. McGowan when lauding Jackson and denigrating (Rep. Andy) Gipson (R-Braxton) and (Sen. Joey) Fillingane (R-Sumrall), is that Jackson famously ignored a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, something the personhood amendment does as well.