By Megan Tran

Copy Editor

  Fifty-seven percent of women live in a state that has hostile abortion rights. In order to protect women’s abortion rights, the federal government should enact legislation that nullifies state anti-abortion laws.

  Strict abortion rights in states mean that abortion services are more limited, isolated, and strict compared to other states who are more supportive and pro-choice. With states being able to enact anti-abortion bills this comes to show that the Supreme Court Case Roe versus wade does not go far enough to enable women to have full abortion rights.

  In 1973, the landmark Roe v. Wade decision established that a women’s legal right to abortion is protected by the privacy rights guaranteed in the Fourteenth Amendment.

  In spite of the Supreme Court decision, states have enacted anti-abortion bills such as S.B. 134, also called the “Heartbeat Bill,” which was passed by the Ohio Senate on Dec. 22. The Heartbeat Bill states that as soon as the fetus’ heartbeat is detected, all abortions, even in cases such as incest or rape, are banned. In addition, the bill will prohibit doctors from performing an abortion.

  According to the American Pregnancy Association, “generally, from six and a half to seven weeks is the time when a heartbeat can be detected and viability can be assessed.”   

   At that stage, many women may not realize they are pregnant because there can be few noticeable body changes. Women can experience symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, sore breasts, frequent urination, bloating, mood swings, cramping, and spotting.

  “[Period symptoms] causes several symptoms that closely resemble those of early pregnancy. As a result, some women have difficulty determining if they are pregnant or if their period is about to start.” Medical News Today stated.

  Due to these circumstances, women are put into a difficult situation because once they find out they are pregnant it is illegal for them to have an abortion.

  “Currently, 20 states are poised to ban access to abortion should Roe v. Wade be overturned, threatening access for more than 25 million women,” Planned Parenthood reported.    

  Multiple states are making it difficult for women to access safe or even any access to abortion options. The federal government should create legislation that follows in the footsteps of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act, which would radically expand abortion and women’s rights. The Women’s Equality Act is a ten part group of bills aimed at advancing women’s rights, one of which is codified abortion. If all states were required under federal law to allow abortion under certain restrictions, in a similar fashion to the Women’s Equality Act, then they would not be able enact their own legislation that prohibits abortion almost entirely.      

  Clearly the decision made in Roe v. Wade does not go far enough to protect women’s rights on a federal level. Bills such as the Heartbeat bill emphasize the need for legislation due to states with strict restrictions on abortion. Women deserve the right to their own body and have the choice to have an abortion no matter the circumstance.