Where government doesn't really belong
Published June 2, 2015
Editorial by Burlington Tmes-News, June 1, 2015.
Lawmakers in Raleigh keep sticking their noses in the personal lives of state residents, attempting to use the coercive power of government to force their moral beliefs on all North Carolinians.
The issue once again is abortion, one of the most personal decisions a woman might ever make.
To be sure, the goal of these lawmakers is to return to the days when abortion was illegal. And just as sure, if they achieve their goal, it will also be a return to the days when women found a way, too often in back rooms, out-of-the-way motels, and other clandestine locations passed by whispers along underground trails.
Less than four years ago, lawmakers began chipping away at a woman’s freedom by mandating a 24-hour waiting period between the time she talks to her doctor and the time of the abortion.
Now backers of the latest bill say 24 hours is not long enough. They want that time stretched to 72 hours.
No big deal for such a big decision?
That’s not the issue.
The issue is the role of government.
In one’s most private life. In one’s most personal decisions.
Sponsors of the bill say they want to give women more time to collect information before making a difficult decision. They hope the longer period would lead to fewer abortions.
Most people, if not all, would share the lawmakers’ hope for fewer abortions, and among those people will be women who have made the difficult choice to either continue or end their pregnancies.
But it would be wrong for government to intervene in the decision that a woman faces regarding abortion. Moral decisions never rest with government but with individuals.
Lawmakers should cease attempting to force their beliefs on others.
When it comes to abortion, the decision belongs to the woman. She might choose to seek counsel from others — her pastor or priest, her partner, her doctor, a family member or trusted friend — but she doesn’t need government telling her what she must or must not do.
http://www.thetimesnews.com/opinion/our-opinion/where-government-doesn-t-really-belong-1.485568
June 2, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Richard L Bunce says:
"Lawmakers in Raleigh keep sticking their noses in the personal lives of state residents, attempting to use the coercive power of government to force their moral beliefs on all North Carolinians."
Hey, that applies to more than just medical issues other than abortion and HIV testing. Get government out of ALL medical issues starting with the FDA regulations and State licensing regualtions.
