Just when we thought the Legislature couldn’t go any further off the deep end, they’ve once again proven us wrong. Rather than focusing on responsible ways to balance the state’s budget, some legislators are crafting several ways to block abortion in Arizona.
Before we get into the ridiculous regulations and measures being proposed, we should clear the air. Just because someone is pro-choice does not mean they are pro-abortion — let’s face it, no one is.
Choosing whether to have an abortion is a big decision and we would rather not put women in that position. Both sides can agree on that. Naturally then, we should work to reduce the number of abortions that are performed. The bills that the state Legislature has put forth do not accomplish this responsibly.
A House committee recently approved a bill that would require physicians to offer women the opportunity to see an ultrasound of the fetus and hear the heartbeat if one exists. These inane requirements only complicate matters and discourage women from getting abortions. This may bring down the total number of abortions, but doesn’t get us closer to the ultimate goal of having fewer unwanted pregnancies. House Bill 2443 is another bill that, if passed, would place an unnecessary burden on women. This legislation would require women to sign a waiver saying they are not seeking an abortion because of the fetus’ race or gender.
Women would be required to start disclosing reasons for why they are having an abortion. This is an intensely personal matter and the motives don’t need to be documented.
And then there’s House Bill 2384, which would make it illegal to teach how to perform abortions with public money, including tuition. If this legislation makes it to the governor’s desk, students at medical schools like UA’s would no longer learn to perform this medical procedure. This bill is not simply aimed at stopping women from having abortions, but it tries to root out this practice entirely.
These three proposed laws do not help us reach our end destination. If we want to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies, we should make contraception more available and institute sex education that covers birth control extensively.
According to The Arizona Republic, the Arizona Board of Education does not mandate that sex education be covered, but if it is, it must stress abstinence.
Dodging such an issue does not educate a person about the potential dangers of AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. By educating student about these dangers and the steps they have take to prevent them — be it abstinence or birth control — they will be able to make an informed decision. What they choose to do is up to them; all we can do is give them the tools to be smart about the decisions they make.
For those doubters, we ask you to reconsider. This is hardly a “liberal agenda.” Rather we would like men and women to be educated about the realities of sex and abortion — we want policies that get results.
