The Supreme Court has decided to strike down the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. According to a draft opinion containing the majority vote in favor of overturning the right to a safe abortion, the 49 year old precedent of pro-choice is in jeopardy. There are currently 13 states that have “trigger laws” in place. This means that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, those 13 states will have abortion bans put into place immediately. 

Abortion can be a very controversial topic, but at the end of the day, it should only come down to one thing — the right of choice. For those who are against abortion, the simple solution would be to just not get one. The right to choose whether or not you want an abortion is a sacred thing that should be protected under the Constitution without question. 

There are so many cases that could lead to an unwanted pregnancy, some being far more serious than others. For example, rape victims. When a woman is raped and potentially impregnated by her rapist, under no circumstances should that woman be forced to carry the fetus full term. She should not be expected to endure the serious emotional, physical and psychological tolls caused by the pregnancy and much less give birth to a child conceived in rape. This is where the right to choose is crucial. She is not being forced to have an abortion nor is she being forced to keep the fetus but it is up to her, and her only, what she does with her body. 

A person can want an abortion for any number of reasons. Such reasons may include: financial instability, unplanned pregnancy, not being ready to raise a child and countless others. A reason for an abortion is not even necessary as it is up to the mother.  Many pro-life activists argue that a person wanting an abortion could give the child up for adoption rather than aborting the fetus, however, this argument is flawed in a number of ways. The foster care system in America is incredibly damaged and can subject children to life-long trauma. 250,000 children enter the foster care system every year and compared to the whole, very few of them are adopted to long-term homes. Clearly, adoption absolutely cannot be the substitution for abortion. 

If abortion becomes banned all together, this won’t stop abortions from happening, it will only stop the safe abortions. The abortions that will inevitably be performed could put the mothers life in severe danger. Medical complications from unsafe abortions could mutilate the mother and potentially even kill her. It is of utmost importance that abortions remain safe and legal for everyone. 

It is important to note that most of the judges who are voting to overturn Roe v. Wade are men. Men should have no place in a dispute over women’s bodies and they should not be involved in an issue that does not pertain to them. This is just another example of the patriarchy putting laws on women’s bodies. 

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, each state will be free to regulate the ban of abortion within their own state. Fortunately, Minnesota is one of the states where abortion will likely remain legal. This might mean an increased number of people seeking abortions will travel to states like Minnesota to get one. There are currently eight abortion clinics in Minnesota that will remain open and are preparing for the possible influx in patients. At the end of the day, abortion is a human right that needs to be upheld indefinitely.