When Government Attempts To Regulate Morality

Before the 19th century, most states had no specific abortion laws. Women were able to end a pregnancy prior to viability with the assistance of medical personnel.

Beginning in Connecticut and followed by New York in 1829 over the next 20 years there were a series of laws restricting abortion, punishing providers, and, in some cases, punishing the woman who was seeking the abortion.

The first US federal law on the subject of abortion came in 1873, which permitted a special agent of the postal service to open mail dealing with abortion or contraception in order to suppress the circulation of “obscene” materials.

From 1900 until the 1960s, abortions were prohibited by law. The Kinsey report noted that premarital pregnancies were electively aborted and public and physician opinion began to be shaped by reports of the increasing numbers of unsafe illegal abortions.

In 1965, 265 deaths occurred due to illegal abortions. 20% of all pregnancy-related complications in New York and California were due to abortions. A series of US Supreme Court decisions granted rights to women and ensured their right to choice in this process. In 1965 the courts recognized a constitutional right to privacy and ruled that a married couple had a constitutional right to obtain birth control from their health care provider.

Why do you believe the way you do?

Do you expect government to convince others to believe as you believe?

Is a fetus alive if unable to survive without life support?

Is an adult alive unable to survive without life support?

See what happens when government attempts to regulate morality?