AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
In what was not a complete surprise to most Americans, last Friday the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that provided that abortions were allowed anywhere in the United States.
And as was equally expected, the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision sparked jubilation by people who were pro-life, as well as evoked an outcry from people who were pro-choice. Both reactions should not have come as a surprise to anyone. The question as to whether or not a woman should have a federal constitutionally-protected right to have an abortion has been argued for decades.
In 1973, the nation’s highest court decided that women should have the constitutional right to an abortion. Now, 49 years later, the court changed its mind and ruled that it is up to the individual states to determine whether or not to allow abortions.