Marvin Richardson

[[File:Marvin Richardson, a.k.a Pro-Life.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Pro-Life himself.]]{{politics}}'''Marvin Richardson,''' a.k.a. '''Pro-Life''', {{lived|August 5, 1941}} is an [[anti-abortion]] [[perennial candidate]] from [[Idaho]].

He was born Marvin Thomas Richardson in Carbon County, [[Wyoming]]. He played basketball in high school and later attended [[Brigham Young University]] on an athletic scholarship but eventually got cut from the varsity basketball team. He later became an [[LDS]] [[missionary]] in [[Arizona]], [[California]] and [[Nevada]], graduating in 1967 with a degree in [[political science]]. He has since worked as an [[Accounting|accountant]], [[coal]] miner, and a salesman of irrigation equipment and {{wpl|Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar}} parts.

Since 2002, he has been an [[organic]] strawberry farmer in unincorporated Letha, Idaho, northwest of Boise. He has been married twice and has 15 children.

In 2004, he legally changed his middle name to "Pro-Life", and since then, has been running for public office in every general election in Idaho. He has stated that he intends to do so until his [[death]].

==Views==
Pro-Life was formerly a member of LDS but left the church in 1998, claiming it doesn't ascribe [[personhood]] to the [[Fetus|unborn]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120622062122/http://prolifeidaho.com/about/ A Short Chronology of Pro-Life’s Life]. Archived from the original at prolifeidaho.com.</ref>

He believes that [[Kinder, Küche, Kirche|women should not work outside the home]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120415050934/http://prolifeidaho.com/wife-of-prolife/ Kirsten, Wife of Prolife]. Archived from the original at prolifeidaho.com.</ref> but encouraged his wife to run for Idaho House of Representatives in 2006. She did, as a Constitution Party member, but lost to the Republican candidate 25-75.

Naturally, he believes [[abortion]] is murder. He also wants to charge doctors who perform abortions with murder.<ref>[http://www.idahopress.com/news/pro-life-gets-name-on-ballot-this-year/article_d45f2bc1-0412-5359-8a66-ced634f3900b.html 'Pro-Life' gets name on ballot this year]. Idaho Press, 20 March 2008.</ref>

He opposed the [[TARP|Troubled Asset Relief Program]] as a candidate in 2008, citing concerns that its implementation would result in "a total [[fascist]] [[dictatorship]] run by the bankers."<ref>[http://www.idahopress.com/news/idaho-officials-candidates-weigh-in-on-federal-bailout/article_6b86c794-fd31-5d42-9754-81cdef91a3f7.html Idaho officials, candidates weigh in on federal bailout]. Idaho Press, 25 September 2008.</ref>

He opposes [[war]] undertaken without a declaration of war by [[Congress]], is non-interventionist and considers the [[Iraq War|wars in Iraq]], [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]], and [[Libya]] to be unjust and [[United States Constitution|unconstitutional]].<ref>[http://www.cdapress.com/archive/article-3bbfb78a-08d1-11e2-958e-001a4bcf887a.html Candidate profile: U.S. Rep. District 1, Pro-Life (formerly Marvin Richardson)] The Coeur d'Alene Press, 27 September 2012.</ref>

He also opposes [[public education]], which he considers [[communist]].<ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/10/31/the-idaho-gubernatorial-candidate-named-pro-life.html The Idaho Gubernatorial Candidate Named "Pro-Life"] The Daily Beast, 31 October 2013.</ref>

After the [[Sandy Hook massacre|Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], he suggested allowing Idaho sheriffs to organize groups of 
[[gun nut]]s
 armed volunteers to protect schools.<ref>[https://archive.is/20131122165827/http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/12/17/idahopolitics/deputize_armed_volunteers_protect_schools_says_perennial_idaho_c Deputize armed volunteers to protect schools, says perennial Idaho candidate Pro-Life]. voices.idahostatesman.com, 27 December 2012.</ref>

==Electoral history==
*2004: ran for Idaho House of Representatives as the [[Constitution Party]] candidate, but lost to the [[Republican]] candidate, 22-78.
*2006: ran for Governor of Idaho initially as a Constitution Party candidate but got disavowed by the party. He received 1.62% of the votes.
*2008: ran for [[Larry Craig]]'s vacant Senate seat, receiving 1.34% of the vote.
*2010: ran for Governor again, getting 0.85% of the vote.
*2012: ran for Idaho's 1<sup>st</sup> Congressional district, getting 2.4% of the vote.
*2014: ran again for Governor of Idaho, getting 0.65% of the vote.
*2016: ran again for Senate but lost in the Constitution Party primary.
*2020: ran for Idaho's 2<sup>nd</sup> Congressional district, getting 2.2% of the vote.

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richardson, Marvin}}
[[Category:Abortion]]
[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Perennial candidates]]

Categories: Abortion, Anti-abortion activists, Living people, Perennial candidates