NC H158

Adds Section 39 to Article I of the North Carolina Constitution declaring that distinct human life begins at fertilization and is recognized as an individual person entitled to legal protection from fertilization until natural death.

Establishes that willfully destroying human life at any stage constitutes attempted murder or first degree murder, and grants individuals the right to use deadly force to defend their own life or another's life from willful destruction.

Declares the State has an interest and duty to defend innocent persons from willful destruction of life and to punish those who take the lives of persons, born or unborn, who have not committed a capital offense.

Requires submission of the amendment to North Carolina voters at the 2022 general election with ballot language asking voters to approve constitutional recognition that human life begins at fertilization.

Amendment becomes effective upon certification by the State Board of Elections and Secretary of State, and applies to takings occurring after that date.