When Failure is a Victory

I was doing some research last night on Obama's Freedom of Choice Act. Wanting to sift through the emotional responses and get down to the facts, I thought it best to look at sites in support and in opposition to the bill to see what they had to say about the law.

I happened to come to NARAL Pro Choice America's website, and of course, what I found was some disgusting propaganda about our so-called constitutional right to choose being "in dire peril." (Because over 4,000 American abortions a day just isn't good enough?) I always find it interesting that pro-choice people forget that our revolution was fought in order to preserve the right to life.

Anyway, I also found something on their site that was beyond pleasing. It was a grade for the state of Alabama. A big, fat "F."

We, in Alabama, have failed to provide easily obtainable abortions. Things that weigh against us here, in the view of NARAL are the following:

1. Required Biased Counseling and Mandatory Waiting Periods: This is defined in their own words as "Biased counseling and mandatory delay laws prohibit women from receiving abortion care until they are subjected to a state-mandated lecture and/or materials followed by a delay of usually at least 24 hours before they can receive services."

In Alabama, a woman must be told of the details of the procedure, potential risks, probable age and physical development of the baby, and alternatives. The waiting period is 24-hours, and the woman must receive a state-prepared handout of resources that are available to assist with pregnancy and raising a child or placing a child for adoption.

Sounds like some great education to me!

2. Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortions: Alabama requires 1 parent to consent to an abortion, if the pregnant girl is less than 18. If circumstances in her family make it impossible to gain this consent, the girl can obtain permission from a family court judge. Harsh.

3. Restriction on Low-Income Women's Access to an Abortion: Alabama doesn't allow tax money to go toward abortions for low-income, unless the pregnancy if life-threatening for the mother. The cost for an abortion, by the way, is usually less than $500.

4. (Unenforced) Bans on Early and Late Abortions: Abortions are not supposed to happen before 12 weeks or after viability. Health of the mother is an exception to the ban on late abortions.

5. Ban on Pro-Abortion Counseling: The Office of Women's Health in Alabama can't advocate for abortions. It is only allowed to educate about abortion and other alternatives.

6. Licensing Requirements: Only a licensed physician can perform an abortion in Alabama. If a facility performs more than 30 abortions a month, or advertises as an abortion provider, it must have be licensed. Abortion facilities must have ultrasound equipment to perform pre-abortion ultrasounds (currently, the law doesn't require that the woman be shown this ultrasound, but she has the right to view it).


Often, you'll hear pro-choice advocates use the rhetoric that they are fighting for fewer and safer abortions. These laws of Alabama are educating women on healthy alternatives. The laws help women make the best choice - one that is thought out and backed with information, not just emotion. When abortion is the choice a woman makes, the law is intended to ensure that facilities will provide safe ones.

Still, we get a grade of "F" with NARAL. This is one bad grade I couldn't be happier with.

**To find out how much your state supports education and life, go to NARAL's State Profiles. Remember, "bad" grades are those that provide for education of women and encourage them to make an informed choice.