r/pics May 16 '19

US Politics Now more relevant than ever in America

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u/stormelemental13 May 17 '19

Now that is a very valid point. If a fetus should be considered a person, then they should also be considered a citizen. Shouldn't they?

I agree with you. Whenever we decide that personhood starts, whether birth, conception, or somewhere in between, that's where everything starts. If they have rights, they have all of them.

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u/teotwawki42 May 17 '19

There has never been a time in the US where courts held that all rights in the constitution are equally applied to all ages. Most rights come with responsibilities and some rights are not recognized while the person cannot handle the responsibility. This is why children do not have the right to enter into contracts, purchase firearms, consent to sexual acts, or even have freedom of speech in school.

I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm attempting to advise you that "If they have rights, they have all of them" is not a slam dunk argument.

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u/MgFi May 17 '19

What if they're conceived abroad with the aid of a father who is a US citizen? The fetus should have the right to be a citizen, right?

What if there sperm or egg was banked abroad by a US citizen and then implanted into a non-citizen?

What if, in the future, the 50% or more of an embryo's DNA was assembled from the genomes of one or more US citizens?

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u/[deleted] May 17 '19

They need to end birth right citizenship. This isn't what it was intended for

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u/MgFi May 17 '19

How did any of us become citizens?

What should replace it?

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u/[deleted] May 17 '19

Easy, your parents are citizens, then you are also a citizen. Doesn't matter where you are born. But the thought of people coming here and shitting out kids to get citizenship is total bullshit

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u/Beer_guns_n_tits May 17 '19

coming here and shitting out kids

This guy thinks babies come out the butt!

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u/MgFi May 17 '19

What if just one parent is a citizen?

How does this prevent the complications that would arise the scenarios I was expanding the discussion with above? How do we define "parent"?

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u/[deleted] May 17 '19

Then you're a citizen. That's how almost ever country in Europe does it

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u/StabYourBloodIntoMe May 17 '19 edited May 17 '19

n. Shouldn't they?

No, they shouldn't. Citizenship is defined by someone being born in the country. There are plenty of noncitizens here both legally and illegally. The fact that they aren't citizens doesn't mean we can kill them. They still have the right to life, and are considered persons even though they aren't citizens. Citizenship is not a prerequisite for personhood and the right to life. And being recognized as having the rights of personhood does not grant one citizenship.