[ABORTION TW] This topic is a sensitive one. Please read at your own discretion and know that I mean no harm when discussing my stance on this topic. I have nothing but respect for either side of the argument and know that it is controversial for good reason. Thank you!
Alabama has been in the news lately for their controversial bills passed outlawing almost all forms of abortion, for almost any possible reason. I believe this is something that is incredibly dangerous, and a move backwards in not only the women's rights movement, but for victims of sexual assault and doctors who take their practice seriously. Abortion has been hotly debated for as long as I can remember, most people sighting the Roe v. Wade (a supreme court ruling from the 1970's) as the true breakthrough in the debate. Roe v. Wade granted a woman's right to choose whether or not to go through with an abortion and also her right to privacy in this decision. The government of Alabama has directly stated their intent to overturn this supreme court ruling, one that was justly declared and has stood since it's decision in 1973.
I have a problem with the decisions being made in Alabama. This bill, passed in the Alabama senate, bans abortion for any reason other than the pregnancy presenting a "serious health risk", which on it's own already appears to be wording that can be interpreted in a number of ways. Rape victims were also explicitly denied the right to an abortion. A ruling on this exemption took place and failed due to the Republican majority in the Alabama senate. The apparent and outright obvious lack of respect for victims of sexual assault, who have been so terribly wronged already, by the government which is supposed to be put in place to protect it's citizens is appalling. I understand that the Republicans who voted for this bill value life, but I believe it is not valuing the life of the victims to make them live with something they had no say in to begin with.
Doctors in Alabama now face charge of life in prison if found guilty of completing abortions, and rights seem to have begun being stripped away. This is a dangerous spiral, something that can lead to more drawbacks to our human rights. I hope that the state of Alabama finds it in their heart to rethink the decision they have made with the passing of this bill, and I hope that the pushback from the citizens can show that we as a society are not satisfied with such a ruling.
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