On March 25, Gov. Gary Hebert signed HB136 into law, placing new restrictions on abortion in Utah and, for many, made an important step to protect and uphold the value of human life.
I would argue that with the passage of more restrictive guidelines regarding the administration of abortions, the state is merely upholding an archaic and paternalistic policy that asserts that women lack the ability to make decisions about their own bodies.
They are saying to every woman in Utah, including those that disagree with the practice of abortion, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we know what you need better than you.”
No organization, including the Utah Legislature, has the right to legislate women’s bodies. They should be considered completely off-limits to legislation, especially considering the demographics of the average state legislator in Utah.
Furthermore, as a way to illustrate the absurdity of having the Utah Legislature dictate how women should manage their bodies, I implore the members to ask themselves how they would feel if their ability to access necessary care and services was determined by group of 20-somethings from the Florida panhandle. They have about as much in common with the average woman in Utah as they do with a 25-year-old in Tallahassee.
Jeffrey Larsen, Salt Lake City