In a historic and profound decision, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the right to abortion upheld in the country for decades.
This decision means that abortion will not be available in nearly half of the states in the United States of America with more restrictions to follow soon for the remaining states. We seek to give some background to the legalities and politics around abortion in the U.S. and share information on the states that prohibit abortions and those in which women can access safe abortions.
When did abortion become a political issue in the U.S?
The political debate around abortion may seem fresh to the ears due to the decision taken by the Supreme Court recently. Still, the topic of abortion has been a controversial debate topic since the 1960s. The debate over abortion has been prominent in U.S. politics since over a century before Roe v. Wade. In 1967, Colorado became the first state to legalize abortion under certain circumstances. In 1973, the ruling in Roe v. Wade nullified existing laws that prohibited abortions and judged that a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy is protected by the U.S. constitution. Even after this ruling, the debate around abortion was not as politically charged. In 1976, the Republicans adopted an anti-abortion viewpoint in their party platform.
Here are some insights about abortion in some states of the U.S.
Abortion is still legal in some states but not all. Currently, some expert institutions say 26 states are likely to ban abortion in a post-Roe v. Wade America while others put the estimated number at 22. Some names that run across predictions are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, and more.
States in which abortion is prohibited.
States that have banned abortion following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade are; Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
States that may have the law in full effect soon are; Louisiana, Utah, Texas, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming, Arizona, Florida, and Georgia.
States in the United States where it is possible to access a safe abortion.
The right to abortion is protected by law in these states even though there are limitations on access to care. They are; Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, and Rhode Island
There are some states and territories where safe abortion can be accessed but these are not protected by law. They are; New Mexico, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and U.S Virgin Islands.
In conclusion, the fight for women’s reproductive rights, one that is a fundamental human right is far from over. Even though the U.S Supreme Court has set the country back by over 50 years, we will continue to fight for our rights as women and the freedom to choose what to do with our bodies. If you’re looking for abortion care organizations like Planned Parenthood are putting measures in place to help women across the country. For any extra information on how to use abortion pills, visit our website. For counseling services, contact safe2choose.