What's your stand on post-Roe laws?
In the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning Roe v. Wade, throwing the legality of abortion back to the 50 states, both voters and lawmakers in a number of American states are looking at proposals to guarantee or to cut back on access to legal abortions.
In Kansas this week, for instance, voters will decide on a state constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to decide the question of abortion.
Currently, the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that the state constitution itself allows abortion.
Here in California, the Legislature is looking at legistlation that could produce greater protections for abortion providers themselves, and in November voters will be asked their opinions of a constitutional amendment to explicitly protect a person's right to an abortion in the state after the federal right was overturned.
Another bill affecting abortion, by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, would keep pregnant women free from criminal and civil liability if there were a miscarriage, self-induced or criminal abortion or in the case of a pregnancy-related infant death.
A law proposed by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, gives more nurse practitioners rather than just physicians the ability provide abortions.
And another law proposed by Assemblymember Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, would have medical licensing boards expedite applicants showing they plan to provide abortion services.
And in June, the Legislature approved putting to California voters in November whether the state constitution should explicitly protect a woman's right to an abortion.
At the same time Gov. Gavin Newsom touted new measures to lock in “California's status as a reproductive safe haven for women.”
Now that the abortion ball is in Californians' court, which side do you come down on of the above issues, and what should California do in the future in creating our own legal climate on abortion?
Are any restrictions on abortion acceptable or necessary?
That's our Question of the Week for our readers.
Email your thoughts to opinion@scng.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence.