by Leslie Maiyo, Corvallis
The dismantling of the age old national law of Roe has caused a huge upheaval within our country.
The job of the Supreme Court has always been to add freedom and protection to the less fortunate as well as all the citizens of this country. Because the Court is currently taking away those freedoms, and revisiting the way it was over two hundred years ago, through “originalism,” the states must now uphold those freedoms through their own volition. Unfortunately many states have taken this opportunity to legislate against the people and are causing a huge burden and confusion from medical doctors to unfortunate people whose very lives are in danger through intended or unintended pregnancy.
Montana, through its wise proclamation on personal freedoms –from carrying guns to privacy in the home, and of a person’s freedom of taking care of their own bodies and health, including pregnancy, is what makes this State unique and outstanding, and has for many years. Beyond that, men in power need to have empathy for the condition women are in when pregnant, and for the freedom to have a future of “liberty and the pursuit of happiness” guaranteed to everyone by the constitution.
What life would your 15yr old daughter have if she was forced to carry a child by rape, through no fault of her own? What future would a woman have if an ectopic (out of the womb) pregnancy occurred that would ultimately kill her because a medical doctor refused to abort it for fear of a lawsuit? And that’s just the obvious…
Our State must REMAIN a place of personal liberty. State legislators, please do not allow our constitution and statutes be changed to suit your personal religion, or perceived support by a few. Most women, a good 50% of our population, rely on this personal freedom to care for their bodies that works for them. The men in their lives rely on it as well for the safety, economic security, and happiness in their families.
Cynthia Taylor says
If a woman is forced to carry an unwanted child, regardless of the reason, every pro-life person should be required to take in at least one unwanted child and raise the child. If a woman is not permitted to make a choice and terminate a pregnancy, regardless of the reason whether it be rape or failed contraception, she is not going to take care of her body while carrying that child. Every pro-lifer should have to adopt and raise the unhealthy, drug addicted, etc. newborn!
It would certainly be interesting to know exactly how many of these know all pro lifers have done just that!
Kevin OBrien says
“The job of the Supreme Court has always been to add freedom and protection to the less fortunate.” Would you agree this includes the Unborn? This is your own quote.
Gomez says
Do you believe that anyone else has the right to use your body without your consent? For example, could someone demand that you hand over one of your kidneys so they could stay alive? Could someone demand that they have the right to force you to give them a blood transfusion every day for months on end and then possibly for the rest of your life to keep them alive?
If a living, breathing adult can not demand such a thing from you, why do you believe that a clump of cells no larger than your fingertip (that would not be viable on it’s own) has that right?
helen Sabin says
Change the constitution? Where in the world did that thought come from? Do you understand how that is done in this state? What SCOTUS did was to turn the matter back to the states where it originally belongs. But I have to keep asking the same question – why aren’t men and women using birth control to control pregnancies and make sure they don’t happen? Yes, sometimes Birth control fails, but there are so many choices, it seems as if something might work. See the various methods available today:https://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/birth-control-pills-patches-and-devices/birth-control-failure/
Gomez says
Agreed. Thank you for your well thought out letter.