Faith

‘We Don’t Know What the Future Holds’: Anti-Abortion Amendment Defeated in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An anti-abortion group fell short yesterday in its attempt to gather enough signatures to ask voters this fall to change the state constitution to declare that life begins when a human egg is fertilized.

Backers of the proposed constitutional amendment in Ohio, a key state in the upcoming presidential election, and elsewhere hope to spark a legal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which upheld a woman’s right to an abortion until the fetus is viable outside the womb, usually at 22 to 24 weeks.

Ohio Personhood Amendment Fails to Get Requisite Number of Signatures to Qualify for November Ballot

The group had collected only about 30,000 of the roughly 385,000 signatures required to be submitted to state officials on Wednesday for a chance to appear on November ballots, said Patrick Johnston, the director of Personhood Ohio.

The group pledged to continue seeking signatures ahead of 2013, but the shortfall was another setback for what has become known as the “personhood” movement.

“I did not get enough (signatures) in the mail today,” Johnston said Tuesday. “It’s going to take a little longer.”

Supporters fell short of the required number of signatures to qualify for the November ballots in Nevada and California. And in Oklahoma, the state’s highest court halted an amendment effort there to grant personhood rights to human embryos, saying the measure was unconstitutional.

Voters have rejected similar proposals that made ballots in 2008 and 2010 in Colorado. They also defeated the initiative last November in Mississippi, which has some of the nation’s toughest abortion regulations.

Organizers say a personhood amendment has a good chance to qualify for the fall ballot again in Colorado. The state has a lower threshold of required signatures than Ohio; about 86,000 signatures are needed by early August.

The measures vary in some details, but in general they define human life as beginning with fertilization and are intended to ban virtually all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. Many physicians have said the measures could make some birth control illegal and deter in vitro fertilization.

Supporters in Ohio had hoped to alleviate those concerns by rephrasing their proposed amendment to say it wouldn’t affect “genuine contraception” or in vitro fertilization procedures.

“These kinds of things are going to grow by increment,” Johnston said. “We have to change people’s minds one at a time.”

The proposal hasn‘t attracted support from some traditional supporters of Ohio’s anti-abortion measures.

The anti-abortion group Ohio Right to Life is not involved. And the Catholic Conference of Ohio, while it hasn’t taken a formal position, is not encouraging its 785 parishes to gather signatures.

Johnston said reluctance from the two groups to help out with the personhood amendment in Ohio, whose constitution doesn’t define life, created a challenge.

“We have a mission that’s internal in some ways,” he said.

The amendment also is trying to gain traction at the same time as the so-called Heartbeat Bill, which would outlaw abortions at the first detectable fetal heartbeat, sometimes as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

Activists from across the political spectrum say getting an issue on Ohio’s ballots is a daunting task.

The We Are Ohio campaign, which successfully sought the 2011 repeal of the state’s collective bargaining law, hired paid signature gatherers even though it already had the support of well-funded labor unions, the Ohio Democratic Party and thousands of volunteers.

Johnston said his group isn’t drawing money from big donors, nor is it using paid circulators.

Leaders in Personhood Ohio planned to meet next month to discuss how best to move forward and what changes could be made to their strategy.

Ohio is expected to be a pivotal, hotly contested state in the Nov. 6 presidential election. But Johnston said he wasn‘t sure whether this fall’s ballot was the best shot at getting the amendment approved by voters.

“We’re really trusting in the Lord,” he said. “We don’t know what the future holds.”

See one of the ads put out by Personhood USA, the umbrella organization of Personhood Ohio, here:

Comments (103)

  • CANDLEMAKER
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:00pm

    The Liberals have said that the Republicans would “throw Grandma off the cliff” as far as her health care is concerned…BUT who REALLY is the party of death? Isn’t it IRONIC that the Republicans are FIGHTING for the lives of the unborn babies of Democrats/Liberals??!! Isn’t it IRONIC that the Democrat/Liberal women who are having these abortions are literally taking away the EXACT SAME “RIGHTS” from their unborn babies that they desire for themselves??!! The “right” to live, the right to do with THEIR bodies that they want??!! Isn’t it funny that the people who PROMOTE/DESIRE abortion are already born??!! You know……those who would think NOTHING of aborting the most innocent unborn child would think NOTHING of killing old Grandma/Grandpa…..stop and think about that!!!

    Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:13pm

      The Democrats are baby killers, the murder thousands each year that do not have a voice. God will judge them, on their death bed they will find no piece.

      Report Post »  
    • quarando
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:03am

      We can agree then that both Democrats and Republicans are parties of death. The Democrats target the unborn while the Republicans target children, the elderly, the poor, foreigners, and working class people.

      They are all evil.

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:40am

      From the deep south to Ohio, the Chiristian Taliban have a losing record with this piece of legislation determined to strip women of Constitutional protections.

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:03am

      From Florida to Washington and Maine to California, the Eugenics Murderers have an alarming record of depriving babies of their most basic right to life

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • oh_yeah
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:36pm

    baby showers why?

    Report Post »  
  • oh_yeah
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:07pm

    when does life begin?

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:58pm

      Mosquitoes and slime mold have life. The real question is what makes human life special. The answer is the human mind, and a fetus doesn’t have one yet.

      Report Post »  
    • oh_yeah
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:07pm

      does a fetus kick when it is uncomfortable?

      Report Post »  
    • NJBarFly
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:31am

      “does a fetus kick when it is uncomfortable?”

      Lobsters kick and wriggle when I drop then into boiling water. This doesn’t make them sentient, self aware beings. It’s just stimulus/response.

      Report Post » NJBarFly  
    • TexasHeat
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:37am

      @Chet: “The real question is what makes human life special. The answer is the human mind, and a fetus doesn’t have one yet”.

      Such shallowness. The answer is that human life is special because it was given by God.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 5:18pm

      TexasHeat
      That’s not an answer. All life was given by God.

      Report Post »  
    • oh_yeah
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:02pm

      hey njbarfly, in the wild… do lobsters try to escape their predators, i think they do right, that would make them sentient. dont forget humans have authority over lobsters. there’s even more. try a dictionary.

      Report Post »  
  • Verceofreason
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:31pm

    You Anti-abortion zealots are the EXACT same people who scream
    when some of these poor women go on public assistance to raise these
    babies they can’t support.

    Report Post » Verceofreason  
    • GIT-R-D0NE
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:46pm

      Only Marxist filth like you think women have rights.

       
    • Jerycle
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:57pm

      The problem is abortion has not been framed correctly. It is the BEST genocide the democrats can possibly execute. It is amazing that they Dems can support over a million fellow future Dems being executed in the womb. It is good for America or otherwise just imagine how many other Dems would be alive. Keep up the good work and give those conservatives a chance to will an election. We all know it would be impossible today if over 20 million Dems didn’t have an abortion since 1973 and kill their future offsping. I think it would make a great billboard. DEMOCRATIC GENOCIDE: OVER 20 MILLION FUTURE DEMS ABORTED.

      Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:03pm

      The FIRST question I would ask potential juror..To see if they qualify

      On a double murder case involving a fetus , as one of the victims…

      What’s your stance on abortion.. for or against..?

      Then..You know where they stand on the life of the fetus.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:10pm

      Or to roughly put it.

      They got 7% of the necessary votes.

      Nice try though.

      Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:19pm

      Jerycle
      The problem is abortion has not been framed correctly
      _____________________________________________

      Depends on who you ask.. someone like Mao Tse-tung
      Would say it was ingenious …self- genocide ..
      And wished he thought of it…!

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:22pm

      Git-r-done‘s puppy must have died and he’s here again for attention.
      Maybe it was your breath.

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
    • tothepoint
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:23pm

      Your comment does not excuse the killing of unborn humans.

      Report Post »  
    • Chromo200
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:43pm

      A born child has a chance a lot better chance than an aborted child. You just like the killing and blood letting without having you doing it. You hire an assasin to do and say it is your right. Before you make a any crap statement about fetuses, go and view and abortion, bet you hands bloody and then come and tell us it is a fetus and not a baby.

      Report Post »  
    • eddie333
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:54am

      So the solution is to terminate fetuses that might grow up to be a burden on society? There ARE other solutions that do not involve death of innocent unborn life.

      Liberals are so casual about the taking of innocent life in the womb. You can bet that they are just as casual about disposing of other lives that are inconvenient, senior citizens, for example. Handicapped people, too, those who don’t have the use of their limbs – the ease at which liberals would terminate those lives because they are inconvenient. And how about poor people – those people don’t pull their own weight, right? What a burden they are on society! Let’s get rid of them, too, is what the liberals would say.

      Who decides which lives are inconvenient? What if they decide that you are a burden and that your life is not worthy of life? You’d be OK with that?

      Whose God, you say? We’re talking here about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, and life. Heavenly Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Worship any other “god” and you are settling for less than the best. You have that choice but know that the outcome is not the same, especially where eternity is concerned.

      Report Post » eddie333  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:43am

      GIT-R-D0NE
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:46pm
      Only Marxist filth like you think women have rights.
      ______________________________
      And your quote sums up the knuckle dragging, backward logic that infects the typical tea bagging beckerhead.

      Report Post »  
    • BenKatz
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:33pm

      @ GIT-R-D0NE

      Exactly the kind of hateful comment I’d expect from someone who has more than likely had to pay for any female affection in their pathetic lives. Its not women’s fault they find you both morally and physically repellant guy, I really think its you. Hilariously appropriate screen name btw.

      Report Post »  
    • BenKatz
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:44pm

      …should have read a few more of your posts before I replied. Ironic or not, the gimmick isn’t that funny.

      Report Post »  
  • nosharia
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:29pm

    I can’t condone any government telling any citizen what they can or cannot do with their own body.

    Report Post »  
  • RealLiibertarian
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:22pm

    Well, good for Ohio. I’m glad to see some people still beleive in freedom.

    Report Post »  
    • docmd
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:32pm

      When we start KILLING our own surely the DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA IS NEAR!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:24pm

      That’s over these dolts heads.

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
  • Verceofreason
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:17pm

    I say “Give it a rest”.

    Report Post » Verceofreason  
    • eddie333
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:04am

      Abortion is a blood sacrifice to the devil that you serve.

      Sounds like your heart is with the devil so you will probably get to spend eternity with him. He is so evil to the unborn, just imagine what he would do to a devoted follower such as yourself. You will be his to abuse for eternity.

      Unless you turn your heart to God and accept salvation through Jesus Christ. That is the hope.

      Report Post » eddie333  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:03pm

    It took 60 years to get roe v. wade and only recently has the means to undo it have come main stream. No one wanted a ballot right after it came out. It might take a few generations to do anything about it not one try.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • heckej
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:03pm

    Our bodies are not our own; they are a gift from our Lord through our parents. Every person alive or dead was once a fetus. If our mothers had aborted us, we would not exist. A fertilized egg is a human being fully realized at birth.

    Report Post »  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:20pm

      Millions do not agree with you.
      THEY have right to
      AND they supercede the fetuses.

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
    • GIT-R-D0NE
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:51pm

      Those millions do not have rights. Only Marxists like you talk about rights. The constitution is for true Christians only. No one else has rights they are for Christians to rule.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:16pm

      @Git

      “Those millions do not have rights. Only Marxists like you talk about rights. The constitution is for true Christians only. No one else has rights they are for Christians to rule.”

      You just proved how insane you are.

      You obviously haven’t read the Constitution.

      Report Post »  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:01am

      Git r done is a troll and attention ho.
      Best to ignore him
      Has nothing to contribute
      Doesn’t even give good snark.

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
  • pissantno.10
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:41pm

    if you want to stop abortions change the voting age to 1 year olds. the libs would stop it right now

    Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:34pm

      You got that right…!
      Every liberal politician overnight would become pro-life.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:30pm

      If religious people want to stop abortion they should pray to their God to stop giving babies to women who he knows will get an abortion.

      It’s SIMPLE as that.

      Report Post »  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:04am

      That makes so much sense.
      But the terror babies might kill them!

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
  • bobbyjoe
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:30pm

    I‘m sorry that’s from our declaration of independence that we celebrate today.

    Report Post » bobbyjoe  
  • EP46
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:23pm

    We keep asking “Where is our George Washington ”? Our nation needs him…. where are the men and women of today that will stand up to protect and defend our nation. Perhaps this is the answer….when you abort a baby….you are murdering generations to come. Not just one baby is killed, but the children of that child, and the grandchildren of that child, etc. Perhaps by permitting abortion all the great leaders of our great country and all the defenders of our freedoms were murdered by their mothers. Abortion must stop, we cannot continue to kill future generations.

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:06pm

      People who are raised by stupid and irresponsible parents who didn’t want them to are actually less likely to grow up to be great leaders than people who are raised by parents who wanted them and were prepared to care for them, but they are more likely to grow up to be criminals or lunatics than people with good parents are. The more abortions we have, the better off we all will be.

      Report Post »  
    • EP46
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:50am

      @CHET ..Some of the greatest achievers in America have had ‘bad parents’ or were raised in ‘bad conditions” but these people chose to take their life and enrich it and empower themselves and do great and wonderful things with the opportunities that were given to them. Then, you have the children sitting in their own waste like the OWS…..each has a choice, but only if given the RIGHT to Life.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 5:23pm

      Everybody has choices, but not everybody has all of the same choices, and not everybody has as much to lose by choosing wrong. The more abortions we have, the higher the percentage of people who are likely to choose well, and the better off we all will be.

      Report Post »  
  • antitheist
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:07pm

    Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up

    Report Post » antitheist  
  • TeresaJ
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:59pm

    Everyone here, if you believe in what they are doing, please go to their site and sign the petition for your state. Spread the word to your friends and family.

    Report Post »  
  • Serenabit
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:53pm

    Modern medical science defines life as energy being present in a body. This is evidenced by the practice of performing EKG’s to measure the electricity in the heart, or an EEG which measures electricity in the brain. When no electrical current is present in either of these organs, medical doctors declare that body “dead.” As such; by the standards of modern medicine, when an egg is fertilized in it‘s mother’s womb and becomes a fetus this very same energy is present. And by the standards of modern law; to dispatch this energy from a living human is murder.

    This may not be politically correct, but it is irrefutable fact! Notice I placed no judgmental or religious connotations within the above definition, because when you do it gives the left an excuse to argue that instead of what is truly happening when they proliferate abortion.

    Report Post » Serenabit  
    • GIT-R-D0NE
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:20pm

      Only Marxists believe anything science says.

      Report Post »  
    • IronFalcon
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:58am

      @GIT-R-D0NE

      Obviously you are another uneducated conservative, who can’t debate issues on their merits, and has to resort to name-calling. Grow up.

      Report Post »  
    • NJBarFly
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:12am

      IronFalcon – Don’t feed the troll

      Report Post » NJBarFly  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:49pm

    What? If Mickey Mouse and Popeye can elect Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, and State offices, they should be good enough for a ballot. :-)

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • Serenabit
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:43pm

    Even in the scientific community life is defined by the presence of energy within a body as evidenced by the measuring of electricity in EKG’s and EEG scans. When there is no energy present doctors declare that body “dead.” And so when an egg is fertilized within the mother’s womb, so too is energy present. Even by scientific standards to “abort” a fetus is to dispatch it’s energy, and by modern laws it is further defined as “murder.” Politically correct or not, this definition is irrefutable.

    Report Post » Serenabit  
    • Johnny Cocheroo
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:55pm

      Well, sperm and eggs are also alive. Does that mean that masturbation (aside from being publicly taboo) is also murder?

      Report Post »  
    • Serenabit
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:02pm

      When a person masturbates are they actively engaging in dispatching the sperm’s energy? Do they put it under a microscope and attempt to dispatch each of the sperm’s energy?

      Report Post » Serenabit  
    • Serenabit
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:08pm

      When someone masturbates are they actively engaged in attempting to dispatch the energy in each and every sperm?

      Report Post » Serenabit  
    • chips1
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:27pm

      An acorn is not a tree until you plant it. God makes that decision. Politicians can’t make an acorn, nor create earth to plant it in. They are lying to you..

      Report Post »  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:22pm

      If you are against abortion – don’t have one.
      Simple.

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
  • Johnny Cocheroo
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:37pm

    I don’t really care if people want to have abortions, especially when I become a financial slave to those unwanted children from their birth to death. My family deserves the treasures from my toil and I can better decide who is deserving of my charity.

    Report Post »  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:49pm

      So murder is OK? Ya gonna start shooting old people on medicare too? You F’ing IDIOT!

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • samnjoeysgrama
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:22pm

      Johnny Cocheroo.When my kids had gerbils, they rapidly reproduced, became overcrowded, and eventually ate their young. There are rules in society for a reason. Abortion is, at best, a really stupid method of birth control. At worst, it is murder. My answer to your unwillingness to support those deadbeats is for the actively productive members of society… to stop supporting the deadbeats. When charity was a gift instead of a right, abortion was recognized as being wrong. When gerbils have enough food and space and freedom, they don’t eat their young. Clearly we don’t have the sense of a gerbil.

      Report Post » samnjoeysgrama  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:23pm

      Abortion is not murder.
      And no law says that.
      So why post lies and mis information to supposedly make a point?
      You do just the opposite.
      Get it?

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
    • Johnny Cocheroo
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:00am

      Baddoggy,

      Meh – I am not a murderer. I see what you ‘social’ conservatives have brought upon the productive members of society and I want no more of it.

      I’ll support a law that stops welfare. If that passes, I will support your anti-abortion law. Until then, in the words of Balki Bartokomous….don’t be ridiculous. This anti-abortion law is at best a temporary fix.

      Let them kill themselves instead of forcing them to steal.

      Report Post »  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:34pm

    If a personhood amendment fails in Mississippi of all places, then it’s time to pursue a different strategy.

    Report Post »  
  • bobbyjoe
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:18pm

    All these dead babies will be on our hands

    Report Post » bobbyjoe  
    • hcartexas
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:03pm

      So you only believe in Freedom and personal liberty when its say… the 2nd ammendment? You can personally choose not to have abortions, let others do as they see fit. God will judge, so you dont have to.

      Report Post » hcartexas  
    • bobbyjoe
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:25pm

      …and the first amendment. Something to do with life as I recall.

      Report Post » bobbyjoe  
    • bobbyjoe
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:36pm

      I‘m sorry that’s from our declaration of independence that we celebrate today. Been drinking a little today will stay off computer now

      Report Post » bobbyjoe  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:29pm

      It’s really not your problem. Move on.

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
    • GIT-R-D0NE
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:48pm

      Hcartexas only Marxists like you talk about freedom and liberty.

      Report Post »  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:05am

      Have you tried soap and water.?

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
  • junkmaninohio
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:17pm

    It won’t matter anyway if it did reach the Supreme Court. With people like Chief Justice Roberts in play you can be sure it would go down in flames.

    Report Post »  
  • georgepatton
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:15pm

    New Ohio slogan: Ohio………………………………………………….. we make Pennsylvania look good!

    Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:15pm

    Keep on murdering. God will drive us into the dirt….Oh wait, that IS what’s happening.

    You think it’s OK to kill a baby in the womb even in the case of rape or incest…you have blood on your hands too. It is NOT Ok to murder God’s creation! Repent.

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:10pm

      [You think it’s OK to kill a baby in the womb even in the case of rape or incest…]
      You think it’s okay to FORCE a female to conceive in the case of rape or incest? You have psychological issues, but that has been obvious for some time.

      Report Post » Pontiac  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:46pm

      [FORCE a female to conceive a child]
      Before some twit makes a remark, I mean “bear” a child. Though Baddoggy is probably into forced conception as well.

      Report Post » Pontiac  
    • Oldphoto678
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:50am

      I will not follow the orders of the dictator you call god.

      Report Post »  
  • AlexPasak
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:15pm

    Time to cowboy-up and pass these bills. For our god and country!

    Report Post »  
  • mikenleeds
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:15pm

    abortion is murder in GOD S eyes and you will burn in HELL

    Report Post » mikenleeds  

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