Dear people who want to ban abortions to protect the sanctity of life:
If you call yourself “pro-life,” do you know that, according to a 2017 study in The Lancet, the U.S. has three to five times the maternal death rate of other developed countries? Do you know that the CDC reports that Alabama, having just passed the most restrictive abortion law ever, is one of the worst states for infant mortality — and that most of these deaths could have been prevented through prenatal/postnatal care?
Do you know that banning abortions does not prevent abortions, but only opens up a very dangerous black market for them? Do you realize that banning abortions will undoubtedly result in more women and girls dying?
Do you know that when women have access to contraceptives, and therefore are able to limit and space their children, that this not only lowers abortion rates, but also leads to better health, educational, job opportunities and financial security for these women and their families?
What about this idea? Instead of banning abortions, let’s make pregnancy safe by making sure all women have access to affordable prenatal and postnatal care. Let’s make sure every baby has the best chance in life by providing quality health care to all infants and children. Let’s make sure women can choose to have control over their reproductive health by providing education and access to contraceptives. Let’s make abortions legal, safe and rare by optimizing childbearing outcomes for mothers, babies, and families.
Do you truly want to uplift and protect the sanctity of life? This is what pro-life looks like.
Cindy Wright, Sandy