Why Is Abortion Legal in Some States and Not Others?
In June 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned a 1973 case called Roe v. Wade which made abortion legal in all fifty states. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many are confused about current abortion laws.
Keep reading to learn more about the legality of abortion across the United States.
Understanding Abortion in the United States
Roe v. Wade was a legal decision made by the Supreme Court in 1973 that legalized abortion at the national level. According to the ruling, women have a “right to privacy” that prevents the government from prohibiting abortions. As a result, individual states could not fully deny women in all fifty states access to abortions. This court case protecting abortion has been the national benchmark for many decades until this summer.
Only very recently in 2022 did the Supreme Court decide to revisit this decision and overturn it. This means that the national government no longer mandates that every state provide abortions. Instead, voters at the state level will get to decide whether or not to legalize abortion in their states. Some states, like Nevada, continue to practice abortion while others states have enacted measures to regulate or prohibit abortion procedures.
Why Is Abortion Legal in Some States?
Why is abortion legal in some states but not in others? Since the repeal of Roe v. Wade, the voters of each state get to decide for themselves what their laws on abortion will be; the national government no longer forces unwilling states to provide abortions.
In states where abortion is illegal, many voters believe that abortion ends a human life. Since the vast majority of abortions take place because women lack support, groups like the Women’s Resource Medical Centers of Southern Nevada exist to provide women with the medical, social, and economic support they need to face an unintended pregnancy with calm assurance instead of fear. Make sure you’ve explored all your options.
If you think you may be pregnant and are unsure what to do next, schedule a free pregnancy test with our caring and confidential staff.