WA Right To Die Supporters Submit 320,000 Signatures

ASSISTED SUICIDE  WASHINGTON  ELECTIONS 

By Austin Jenkins

Olympia, WA  July 2, 2008 2:08 p.m.

It looks like Washington State voters will get the chance to vote on an Oregon-style right-to-die initiative this fall.

Supporters of I-1000 submitted more than 300,000 signatures Wednesday -- well over the number needed to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

Former Governor Booth Gardner, who has Parkinson’s, is leading the campaign. He says he’s confident of a win in November.

Booth Gardner: “We’ve crossed the first hurdle and we’ve crossed it cleanly and with room to spare. And I think we’re going to go all the way, I’ll bet on it.”

Opponents of I-1000 held a prayer vigil and a news conference at the Capitol in Olympia.

Duane French is a quadriplegic and a leader of the opposition campaign. He says the stakes have just been raised.

Duane French: “I think the fact that it’s now on the ballot it’s the difference between flirting and dating and I think that it’s more serious now and it’s incumbent upon us to educate voters about the many risks.”

Opponents say Death with Dignity is a slippery slope to euthanasia.

Supporters of I-1000 say Oregon’s law is proof it can work in Washington State too.

Share this article: del.icio.us digg newsvine

© 2008 KPLU