Abortion

    It's been 30 years since the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand in the United States. On January 22, 1973, the landmark ruling was handed down. The ruling meant that the decision to have an abortion was a private decision not subject to government intervention between the woman and her health care provider.  Written by Justice Harry A. Blackmun, the ruling stated  the assurance of liberty in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extends a right to privacy "broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy."  Over the decades, there have been many opponents to abortion rights.  This link provides a timeline  of the abortion debate.

    The following websites contain both pro and con views on abortion:

American Life League National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
Pro-Life Action League National Abortion Federation
Birthright  International National Right to Life
Planned Parenthood National Organization for Women
Pro-Choice Public Education Project Pro-Choice Research Center
Alan Guttmacher Institute Pro-Choice

    The following pamphlets are available in the library for checkout:

Return to Hot Topics Main Page

Last Updated January 25, 2003
Comments to Sybil Stokols