Governor Johnson states that he supports the right of a woman to choose up to viability of the fetus. He opposes late term or partial birth abortion and signed legislation as governor outlawing the procedure in New Mexico. He has stated multiple times that he supports parental notification laws and counseling. He has also stated that he opposes government funding for abortions.
Among the various items used during his 2012 campaign was Our America Initiative. On that website, Governor Johnson states that abortion rights were not something dealt with in the constitution and should therefore be dealt with at the state level. He stated that the Roe vs. Wade decision has expanded the reach of the Federal government into areas of society never envisioned in the Constitution and should be revisited. Once Roe vs Wade in overturned, the abortion decision should be returned to the states. This viewpoint is echoed on his campaign website, where he affirms his pro-life stance and states that government should be neutral on personal beliefs.
South Carolina Debate
In May of 2011, Governor Johnson participated in the South Carolina Presidential Debate. When asked about abortion, Governor Johnson stated that he is pro-life after viability of the fetus. He states that he supports parental notification, counseling, and signed a bill opposing partial-birth abortion. He also states that he opposes government funding for abortions.
CSPAN
In a June 2011 CSPAN appearance, Governor Johnson reiterates his previous statements concerning being pro-choice up to viability of the fetus.
Our America Initiative
Governor Johnson started an initiative called Our America Initiative. He stated that he was pro-choice, but opposed late-term abortions.
Abortion
Life is precious and needs to be protected. Deciding to have an abortion is a very difficult decision. As Governor, Gary Johnson supported legislation that banned late term abortions and allowed for parental notification for minors seeking an abortion. He believes that ultimately it is a woman’s right to make such a decision during the early stage of pregnancy.
Judges should be appointed who will interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning. Any court decision that does not follow this original meaning of the Constitution should be revisited. That is particularly true of decisions such as Roe vs. Wade, which have expanded the reach of the Federal government into areas of society never envisioned in the Constitution. With the overturning of Roe vs Wade, laws regarding abortion would be decided by the individual states.
2012 Presidential Campaign Website Statements
CIVIL LIBERTIES
Civil liberties are so foundational to America that the first eight amendments to the Constitution address them directly. These amendments enshrine government’s duty to protect individual liberties, including the rights to free speech and free association.
But today, government has created for itself sweeping powers to monitor the private lives of individuals and otherwise intrude upon our daily activities, our households and our businesses. The extent of the government’s reach today would be unrecognizable to the Founders.
Much of the recent erosion in civil liberties has occurred in the name of national security. But we can – and must -- combat threats to our safety while adhering to due process and the rule of law.
1 END THE ASSAULT ON PRIVACY
THE FREEDOMS ON WHICH AMERICA WAS FOUNDED are now under attack from the very people charged with protecting and upholding them.
The PATRIOT Act should be allowed to expire, which would restore proper judicial oversight to federal investigations and again require federal investigators to prove probable cause prior to executing a search.
Habeus corpus should be respected entirely, requiring the government to either charge incarcerated individuals with a crime or be released.
The TSA should take a risk-based approach to airport security. Only high-risk individuals should be subjected to invasive pat-downs and full-body scans.
The TSA should not have a monopoly on airport security. Airports and airlines should be encouraged to seek the most effective methods for screening travelers, including private sector screeners. Screeners outside of government can be held fully accountable for their successes and failures.
2 GOVERNMENT MUST BE NEUTRAL ON PERSONAL BELIEFS
WE ARE A NATION OF MANY PEOPLES and beliefs. The only way to respect all citizens is to allow each to make personal decisions themselves.
Life is precious and must be protected. A woman should be allowed to make her own decisions during pregnancy until the point of viability of a fetus.
Stem cell research should only be completed by private laboratories that operate without federal funding.
Government should not impose its values upon marriage. It should protect the rights of couples to engage in civil unions if they wish, as well as the rights of religious organizations to follow their beliefs.
