Put abortion on the ballot

No one is for abortion. No one wants to harm an unborn child, but there are situations when a woman feels it is her only choice, either for her health, the baby’s well-being or the mother’s sanity.

To say you are prolife doesn’t mean you are willing to support these kids after they are born or fill in the gaps that caused this difficult decision in the first place. Circumstance is, in most cases, the determining factor. Whether it is financial or the potential of one of a million reasons.

The question is, why should the government force women to have a child not knowing anything about her situation? Whether you are for or against doesn’t give anyone the right to make that decision for the woman. It is difficult enough without shaming or worse by making it a crime.

Sixty-one percent of the country is for a woman’s right to choose, with some common sense restrictions. It should not be used as a means of birth control, but Iowa Republicans have done everything they can to make family planning go away.

Young women with limited incomes are no longer getting the help they need to either prevent pregnancy or to give emotional support as they navigate the most difficult decision of their lives.

Planned Parenthood offers professional help in this time of need. Four clinics were forced to close in Iowa due to the majority of the Iowa legislature blocking some public money that had already been appropriated.

Granted, they have beefed up services at the clinics that are left. But if you live in Northern or Southern Iowa, you’ll have a drive. So, we have made it more difficult to get help or prevent pregnancy.

There were a couple of big wins for abortion access with the recent elections. There are more states getting organized to put it on the ballot in 2024.

Of course, some want to take the citizen referendum ballot away from the majority or make it more difficult for the public to decide. Eastern Iowa legislators and our governor have shown their disapproval of abortion or even Planned Parenthood, though the majority of Iowa is in favor.

With recent losses, Republicans want to rewrite the rules and take away the public’s vote. If a majority of citizens want a measure on the ballot, it should be there.

Laws will certainly not stop abortion, but deaths due to making it illegal will kill more women, mostly from mental health (suicide).

Iowa Republicans have passed a six-week abortion bill, but most women don’t realize they are pregnant until the eighth week or longer.

In the United States, states with the most restrictive laws have a higher death rate than states where abortion is accessible according to the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund.

Let’s get this on the ballot for the 2024 election and give Iowans a chance to make their voices heard.

John Lehnst

Williamsburg, Iowa