We were not surprised to learn from Capitol Watch that the organization formerly known as the Hemlock Society has resumed their “me, myself and I” (or something like that) campaign in the state Capitol concourse this year. They spend heavily on lobbyists, and well . . all that cash has to get you something to report back to George Soros. The Capitol concourse is a tunnel that connects the Legislative Office Building and the Capitol Building in Hartford. It is a convenient way to travel between buildings, especially for the over 25,000 school-aged children who visit the Capitol each year.
We hope they are too busy abusing the tram to carefully read the droll statements of assisted suicide activists hung by C&C staffer Marisa Lindsey. But for the astute, including autistic children who take things quite literally, or depressed teens looking for confirmation on suicidal thoughts, we wonder if messaging such as “Oh, to die on my terms” and “Pro-choice in life and death” is appropriate.
Suicide-prevention experts say it isn’t. Responding to a similar ad campaign in 2010, they declared . . .
“This is irresponsible and downright dangerous; it is the equivalent of handing a gun to someone who is suicidal,” wrote Lanny Berman, president of the International Association of Suicide Prevention, in an email. “This message, communicated to thousands of vulnerable individuals, suffering from psychic and or physical pain that is treatable, invites a tragic and final solution to problems that most often can be solved with proper evaluation and treatment.”
Family Institute of Connecticut is no stranger to having its First Amendment rights infringed and has not asked the legislature to remove these posters. But we are also passionate advocates for common-sense and think this ad campaign designed to influence legislators on a sensitive topic, on public property, in full view of school children and vulnerable people, is a selfish choice.
