A Sad, Sad Day

The Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, has upheld The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, creating the first ever federal ban involving women's reproductive rights. This horrid law lacked an exception for the health of the mother. Let me restate that: There is no exception in this Act when the mother is at risk of injury or even death.

Bush's replacement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor with Justice Samuel Alito played THE major role in this decision. In 2000, a very similar state law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, with Justice O'Connor providing the deciding vote. The state law in question was deemed so because, first and foremost, it held no exception for the health of the mother.

Every court that heard this case, sans the Supreme Court, declared that the ban was unconstitutional, forcing proponents to appeal every time until they received an audience in front of the highest court in the land that is now slanting to the right.

What does this mean for the future? A decision like this clearly sends the message to anti-choice groups that all they need to do is force a law banning all abortions to come to the steps of the Supreme Court. That is why the NARAL Pro-Choice America is supporting an initiative to pass a Federal Freedom of Choice Act, so that laws like this first ever federal abortion ban will not lead to the disintegration of Roe v. Wade. Please, take a few minutes and take action to support this Freedom of Choice Act. You can do as much as calling or donating, or as little as filling out a form that will be sent to your representatives. Here's the link to take action: Click here.