NEW YORK - The abortion bill most likely to become federal law this year would affect a relatively small number of pregnant teens, yet its impact on them could be dramatic -- sharply reducing the options for girls in many states who dread telling their parents of their plight.
Supporters and opponents each offer vivid worst-case scenarios in debating the bill, which was included this week in the Senate Republicans' priority list. It would outlaw transporting a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion in order to evade parental consent or notification laws in the girl's home state.
The bill's advocates evoke the image of a girl being impregnated by an abusive older man who then drives them to an out-of-state abortion clinic so the girl's parents and the authorities won't find out about a relationship that might have been illegal because of age differences.
Opponents of the bill say it would criminalize the well-meaning acts of an aunt, older sister or other confidante who assist a girl terrified of being beaten or evicted from home if her parents learned of the pregnancy.
There is no excuse for a parent of a minor child not being notified about that child's pregnancy, let alone her abortion. If there is a fear of the parents reacting to the news of the pregnancy with "eviction" or "beatings" then child services will have to deal with that issue when it arises. Obviously in most cases a parent will be disappointed and angry with the child for making poor life choices, but the instances where the child will be "kicked out" or "beaten" are clearly in the very small minority.
Preventing this legislation from passing based on that reason is plainly silly. And really, are there any legitimate reasons for preventing the knowledge of their minor daughter's pregnancy from reaching the parents?