Abortion should remain a family decision

By the Journal Editorial Board | Wednesday, November 05, 2008

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No other issue in South Dakota this year has generated the same level of emotion and attention as Initiated Measure 11 — the measure to ban abortions in South Dakota with a few exceptions.

In 2006, the state’s voters rejected a similar measure, although one that contained no exceptions under any circumstances. That all encompassing ban has led to the 2008 version the state will vote on early next week.

We do not support Initiated Measure 11, and recommend a no vote.

Clearly the measure would be challenged and would likely make its way to the Supreme Court. Remember, in 2006 the legal challenge and subsequent path to the Supreme Court to challenge Roe v. Wade, was the intent of abortion ban authors.

South Dakota should not be put in this position to run point on this issue and then be forced to manage the legal costs for many years to come. The state will be spending money fighting a battle it should not be involved with in the first place.

What would a legal challenge cost the state of South Dakota? How many millions of dollars should state taxpayers be asked to invest in a challenge to a federal law rather than spending the same money on education, the highway system or many of the other state needs?

Some in the medical community have concerns about the measure, pointing out the standards imposed on the medical community could effect the doctor’s treatment of a patient. The government and attorneys should not be making decisions best left to a doctor and his or her patient.

Western South Dakota doesn’t like government intervention — we enjoy our freedoms — including freedom of choice. To allow the government to intervene in a freedom isn’t in the spirit of western South Dakota.

We are concerned that there are still some women who use abortion as birth control, and that must come to an end. We would support an increased focus on family planning initiatives that, if implemented, would decrease the number of abortions nationwide. And for thousands of families who are looking to adopt, we’d like to see more options made available for expectant mothers. With fewer unwanted pregnancies and more babies born into loving adoptive families, we can reduce the abortion rate.

The debate over this issue will continue regardless of Tuesday’s outcome — that’s a certainty. Already it has been indicated that if the measure fails, supporters will revive it and place it on the ballot again.

We’re opposed to IM 11. We’re   opposed to government intervention in a decision best left to the family.