
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 21, 1993                   TAG: 9305210459
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

A RIGHT TO SAFE, LEGAL ABORTIONS

LEGISLATION to ensure that American women may continue to exercise the most basic reproductive action is now being considered by Congress. The Freedom of Choice Act would remove abortion from the whim of individual political administrations.

Will passage increase or decrease the demand of abortion? Probably not. It will mean that a woman can make this very difficult choice, knowing that she does not also have many degrading and possibly life-threating hurdles to contend with.

I remember when hospital wards were filled with women suffering with infection from illegal, sometimes self-induced procedures. We can argue interminably about the ethics of abortion, but I don't foresee a time when this agonizing choice will be made by women who find it intolerable to proceed with an unwanted pregnancy.

I also remember when the standard philosophy was that she put herself in the position to be pregnant, so let her take her punishment. Does this attitude persist? And who is punished?

If you believe that a woman has a right to a safe, legal abortion, please call or write your congressman and senators. Ask them to support the Freedom of Choice Act. NANCY R. EDDY ROANOKE

by CNB