Can you imagine if they had the same sort of thing for men? Their pants' flies should trigger a recorded verbal warning that says, "Not using a condom could create the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being that you will be financially responsible for until it is 18."

It would be drowned out by their selective hearing.

I believe in a culture of life. (meaning no death penalty, war, etc. we cannot give life so we should not take it), and i know we have a long way to come in supporting women with unplanned pregnancies, but my hope and prayer is that someday, we wouldn't need any of these laws.

that women with unplanned pregnancies would know that there was a support system for them during the pregnancy.

and that afterwards they could either keep the child and have continued support from the community or find a loving family for the child to be a part of.

dialogue is the answer, not hostility. Thanks for being open to my point of view.!

I'm still mostly pro-choice, but as someone who has to have medical assistance to get pregnant with a much-wanted baby, I have a hard time sympathizing with a woman who got drunk one night and let some guy stick it in and now finds herself knocked up.

A baby is not a punishment, of course, but give that baby a chance to have someone love it, even if it's not you.

I think it's harsh to classify the majority of women who have abortions as irresponsible tramps. That's the kind of woman on woman hatred that turns my stomach. My sister was married, using birth control, and successful in her career when she got pregnant. She wasn't in a place where she could go through a pregnancy, and at her age and social status felt like she would have had to keep the baby, as opposed to give it up for adoption, if she were to follow through with it. That was an agonizing experience for her. And even if someone got drunk and let some guy stick it in, she's only human; we've all made mistakes.

I appreciate Andy's response. I think that communication not hostility is key, very well said Andy.

Noa, you're right, it was harsh of me and I wasn't trying to imply that all women who have abortions are tramps. I just meant that I have a hard time sympathizing with people who use abortions as birth control.

But then, as I said, I'm a little biased because I'm not able to get pregnant as easy as the even the trampiest of tramps.

My apologies for any offense to you. It was not intended to insult.

Disclaimer: I'm a pro-life Christian and this is my humble opinion. I think it’s wrong to lie to women and let them think they’re only eliminating a “mass of cells” when they’re contemplating an abortion, rather than a developing human being which is what that “mass of cells” eventually becomes. They should be told the truth about what the procedure entails and how it is to be performed - some women might change their minds, continue the pregnancy, and opt for adoption if they can't care for the child themselves. Or they may go through with the abortion, which is their right, but they should at least be fully informed. They should be allowed to ask a lot of questions before the procedure and receive honest, sincere answers from caring professionals in an unrushed atmosphere. I also think there should be mandatory therapy sessions after the procedure to help women deal with the emotional aftermath. It makes me so mad that so many women are given abortions, then just sent home without any help or support or anything. Too many of them suffer from severe depression or even attempt (or succeed in) suicide because they feel guilty or sad about what happened and they’re afraid to say anything. Regardless of your opinion on abortion, women who've chosen to have the procedure done deserve to be loved, supported and cared for, not judged or criticized.

Noa, you're right, it was harsh of me and I wasn't trying to imply that all women who have abortions are tramps. I just meant that I have a hard time sympathizing with people who use abortions as birth control.

But then, as I said, I'm a little biased because I'm not able to get pregnant as easy as the even the trampiest of tramps.

My apologies for any offense to you. It was not intended to insult.

Lisa-Marie,

I'm pro-choice and I agree with you. Everyone should know exactly what the procedure entails and how it will be performed. Women should also have the right to mental health care following the abortion.

The problem is that this education should take place well before you get to the clinic. Our government is doing a terrible injustice to women by not thoroughly educating us about sex, our reproductive health and our birth control options. Abstinence only education is a farce that results in feelings of shame about sex, unwanted pregnancies and (sometimes fatal) STDs.

We have a responsibility and a right to educate and be educated. And this may sound just a tad extreme, but when the Taliban took over countries the first things they cracked down on were women's rights and the education of women... I'm just sayin....

Read the article "Private Lives" by Lori Campbell in this last January's issue of Vogue, and give it some thought. It is one of the most non-partisan articles about abortion.

One point it raises is that even with the absolute best technology we possess right now, a fetus cannot survive even if it is born naturally if it comes out too soon. I totally respect women who carry an accidental pregnancy to term, but I have a hard time respecting anyone who says women and their partners do not have the right to choose. And that's at the heart of this debate, isn't it?

It sucks and it's awful, but women have to bear the brunt of a pregnancy - or the fallout from terminating one - emotionally, physically, and psychologically. That's biology. Why is it we have to toss hormones into our bodies orally, via a vaginal ring, or have implanted time release capsules, or we have to endure an IUD? All men have is a condom. No one funds research for male contraception. Why? Because men have been dominant in science and they don't want their precious balls messed with.

Why are abortions still done with sharp implements that resemble dental tools? Why isn't there research going into how to use lasers or ultrasound to take care of extremely early stage pregnancies to make the procedure safer and less controversial? Politics.

I've talked my way into Rockefeller University pitching a male-targeted contraception. I had a lab where I could work, a scientist who wanted to be my PI, a killer idea, I did my research and homework, and you know what I lacked? Funding. All my ducks were in a row and no one would pay me.

Time for a revolution, ladies and gentlemen. You'll be hearing about me in 5-10 years. ;)

M. You are AWESOME. Good luck with finding funding.

I am a firm believer that an abortion as well as contraceptives are a medical issue between a doctor and patient. It is not the government's place to tell me what I can and can't do with MY BODY.

If a doctor has a moral issue performing an abortion, fine, that doctor can refer their patient to another doctor. If the woman feels it's a procedure she couldn't do, that's UP TO HER.

For the government to get into my personal medical decisions is an outrage. If this involved a man's body we all know they wouldn't be creating laws to stop it.

Reading these posts, I'm thrilled to live in Canada. Not that things are perfect here, but we just gave the Order of Canada (a big government honour) to Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who is a physician who performed abortions and fought for women's right to access abortion for over 30 years. (He has lived through bombings of his clinics, death threats, etc. because of it, by the way). I know for a fact that it is safe and relatively easy to access abortion in my province, and with social medicine, the procedure is covered by government health coverage, so women do not have to pay out of pocket. Obviously I'm very pro-choice, and I hope one day there will not be such a disparity between different governments and that women will have the right to decide what is right for them in all matters.

Even more ridiculous than the seemingly constant threat to a woman's right to choose is abstinence-only sex education. Why is it that the very same people who think that abortion should be illegal also think that educating young people on ways to NOT get pregnant (or infected with an STD) is some sort of moral travesty? The kids are having sex anyway people. Except now it's producing babies that they're going to want to "take care of."

If you don't want abortions to be used as a method of birth control, give people access to less invasive methods. Ever tried to get the pill without health insurance? Have fun. The system is stacked against women in so many ways it's almost laughable. And if you want a really fun time, Google the "Global Gag Rule." Controlling a woman's right to decide what she wants with her own body both here and abroad. Because hey why not? Might as well run roughshod over everyone while we're at it..

So let's hope that everyone who commented here today is getting out to VOTE in November, right? Because without the right people in the Supreme Court, a women's right to chose might literally become history and this discussion will be moot.

I'm probably older than most of you, and remember when abortion was illegal. I remember acquaintances flying to Puerto Rico where it was legal if they could afford to. Some went to back alley abortionists, got infections, became infertile, some died. I've known people to use knitting needles or quinine. These women all had the right to life too.

Unfortunately, the poorest people had the babies they didn't want. They didn't give them up for adoption though. Way too many became abused children. If the laws aren't preventing abuse now, you can imagine how little they did then. I am not saying poor people are bad parents, sometimes they're the best. I'm saying that people who don't want their children, often are less than ideal parents.

Without choice, all this will start again.

This isn't a law in South Dakota,the pro-life group collected enough signatures to bring it to a vote....AGAIN! South Dakotan's turned it down previously. Not sure how they can bring it to vote again! I say give this a rest! Government should not be in control of a woman's reproductive system. What next will they govern?
What other American privlege will they control?
Think about it. The choice is personal and a hard decision for anyone. Let it rest. Recomending education prior to an abortion...fine...nothing more. Let it rest.
I'm not pro-choice-I'm not pro-life - I'm pro-woman's rights. Period.