AHLPA, better known as the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, was recently signed into law by our Governor Kay Ivey. On Twitter, she proclaimed that "...this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious & that every life is a sacred gift from God."

These are the drastic changes being made in our state regarding abortion due to AHLPA:

1. “This bill would make abortion and attempted abortion felony offenses except in cases where abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk to the unborn child's mother.” There are NO EXEMPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST.

2.“Section 6. (a) An abortion performed in violation of this act is a Class A felony.” A Class A felony in Alabama can see those found guilty in jail for NO LESS THAN TEN, AND UP TO  NINETY-NINE.*.

3. “(b) An attempted abortion performed in violation of this act is a Class C felony.” A Class C felony in Alabama can see those found guilty in jail for NO LESS THAN TWO, AND UP TO TWENTY YEARS.*

*According to https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/felony-offense/alabama-felony-class.htm

4. “Section 8. The construction of existing statutes and regulations that regulate or recognize abortion in Alabama that are in conflict with or antagonistic to this act shall be repealed as null and void and shall recognize the prohibition of abortion as provided in this act. If this act is challenged and enjoined pending a final judicial decision, the existing statutes and regulations that regulate or recognize abortion shall remain in effect during that time.”

You can read the full bill for yourself here: https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/alabama-abortion-ban-passes-read-the-bill.html

The passage of this act by the Alabama government is a gross infringement on the rights of millions of women. In the Roe v. Wade Case of 1973, the Supreme Court “found [abortions] to be implicit in the liberty guarantee of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (“…nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”).

In the case of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), the Supreme Court “established that restrictions on abortion are unconstitutional if they place an ‘undue burden’ on a woman seeking an abortion before the fetus is viable.”

You can learn more about these cases here:

https://www.britannica.com/event/Roe-v-Wade
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/abortion/roe-v-wade
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/505/833

Women are being stripped of the rights to dictate what happens with their own bodies. Safe abortions for ALL women in the U.S. is a constitutional right that must be upheld, and this law is a direct attack on that idea, and women themselves. There is no reason why, in a nation that is founded on the ideas of freedom, that women cannot choose WHAT to do with their bodies and WHEN.

Kate Ivey is abusing her power and attacking American ideals by passing this legislation. Our government stands to protect and uphold the values of the Constitution, which includes women’s rights to safe abortion and control over their reproductive systems. 

As a young woman nearing adulthood, I will not tolerate this violation upon women's rights as citizens of this country. I call on all of my fellow youth to take a stand against AHLPA. Being able to have access to safe abortions and related procedures is a necessity for many women, and here in the U.S., there is no reason for our sex to be barred from making such an intimate decision. We are a developed nation that prides itself on our rights and freedoms. Access to safe abortion should not be jeopardized in this day and age.

It is a fact that women will still seek out abortions even after the passing of this bill. Women will be forced to spend more unnecessary time, energy, and hardships seeking out safe procedures that SHOULD BE AVAILABLE HERE. It is also a fact that nations without legalized, safe, abortion options have similar abortion rates as nations that have legal/safe options, but more of these women end up suffering with long term injuries/dying due to unsafe alternatives.

Including religion into this narrative is unnecessary and irrelevant and only draws away from the fact that we are being attacked and stripped of our rights.

Women are free thinking American citizens who have a right to our reproductive systems, and will CHOOSE what goes on with our bodies.

This petition is serves as a way for our voices to be heard by our government. We may be too young to vote now, but before you know it, we WILL be heading to the polls (and perhaps running for office ourselves). We want Alabama to know that we will not stand for this blatant abuse of power that targets women and their ability to choose what happens to their OWN, INDEPENDENT bodies.  

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

https://www.guttmacher.org/united-states/abortion - Guttmacher Institute
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/ - Planned Parenthood
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alabama-governor-signs-controversial-abortion-ban-bill-law-n1006211 - News on the passge of AHLPA by NBC News
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/upload/Summary-of-Roe-v-Wade-and-Other-Key-Abortion-Cases.pdf - Summary of Supreme Court rulings on abortion
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/abortion-laws-states.html - New York TImes article on current U.S. abortion bans