By Amanda Presutti
In the past several weeks, abortion rights have been a major
topic frequenting media sources, as Texas recently passed a law creating huge
limitations on abortion centers and severely depleting the number available to
women in the state. This has raised alarm throughout the United States and
brought the topic to the forefront of discussion.
In general, abortion and abortion rights are considered a
contentious topic because it links the long-separated ideas of religion and
state. As a country that prides itself in its affirmation of equal rights and
opportunities for all of its citizens, the United States has limitations placed
upon its constitution and the extent of its authority. The constitution
established freedom of religion in the bill of rights and stated that religious
sentiment should not intervene in government practices. In most situations
throughout the country’s history, the United States has managed to create laws
and regulate government while separating itself from religious practices and
ideas. However, abortion brings these two converging ideas together. Neither
science nor religion dictates exactly when a fetus becomes considered a human
and attains an identity. From a liberal perspective, a fetus becomes a human
later on in the stages of development, while the more conservative view states
that a fetus gains an identity when it is conceived. In the past generation,
this topic has been tied into politics and increased divisiveness between
political parties, as more conservative Republicans have the tendency to reject
the idea of abortions, and liberal Democrats generally support the wide
availability of abortions and the “right to choose.”
In most recent news, the Supreme Court allowed Texas to
continue enforcing its law on abortion restrictions despite the appeals of
Planned Parenthood and several Texas abortion clinics. These restrictions
forced over a third of state abortion clinics to stop providing abortions. The
Supreme Court has a conservative majority and the vote to keep the law in
effect was a 5-4 vote (1.) While it passed by a slim majority, it was a huge
victory for conservatives not only in Texas, but pro-life conservatives
throughout the United States who believe that abortion laws should be a
state-regulated matter. The law was a contentious matter amongst many judges in
lower courts; however, the Supreme Court dictated that the newly legalized
Texas abortion restrictions was entirely responsible “so long as they do not
impose an ‘undue burden’ on a woman’s ability to obtain an abortion (2.)”
Though Texan women must drive a greater distance to receive an abortion, they
are still available in select areas throughout Texas, so the limitations are
entirely legal. Liberal Democrats remain outraged, as Cecile Richards, the
president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, stated, “we [Planned
Parenthood] will take every step we can to protect the health of Texas women.
This law is blocking women in Texas from getting a safe and legal medical
procedure that has been their constitutionally protected right for 40 years.
This is outrageous and unacceptable (3.)”
Similarly, the heated debate has continued in many other
states throughout the nation. Tennessee and Utah have implemented abortion
restrictions similar to those recently in Texas. However, the opposite effect
seems to be occurring in other parts of the country. In Albuquerque, New
Mexico, voters in the city rejected a ban on late-term abortions, which would
have banned abortion after 20 weeks even in the case of rape or incest (4.)
With the influx of state laws concerning abortion
restrictions, abortion rights will undoubtedly continue to be a contentious
topic amongst the general population and especially in the next set of
congressional and presidential elections. As these state laws continue to
create controversy and a sense of divisiveness between liberals and
conservatives, it is more than possible that the Supreme Court will be faced
with an even more serious judicial decision concerning abortion laws.
1.
“Supreme Court allows Texas to keep enforcing
abortion restrictions.” The Associated Press. CBS News. November 19th,
2013.
2.
“Supreme Court allows Texas to keep enforcing
abortion restrictions.” The Associated Press. CBS News. November 19th,
2013.
3.
“Supreme Court allows Texas to keep enforcing
abortion restrictions.” The Associated Press. CBS News. November 19th,
2013.
“Voters reject ban on late-term abortions in Albuquerque.” Karimi, Faith and Stapleton, AnneClaire. CNN.
November 20th,
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