As we've recently discussed on episode 73, abortion is a very complicated issue that clearly divides us all into three main camps: those who support abortions without any restrictions, those who oppose abortions with zero exceptions, and those who support abortion with certain exceptions (rape, incest, etc) within a certain timeframe. Regardless of which camp you fall in, one of the major complications is that it's not all about abortions. There are several issues that are being argued as one.
Should abortion itself be legal? Should there be exceptions? Should there be time restrictions (viability)? Should there be one viability standard or maybe it should be based on each patient?
How about the mother's rights? Can you force the mother to give birth? Does she bear any responsibility for the actions that led to the pregnancy in the first place?
How about the baby's rights? When do those start?
What about the father's rights? Does he have any?
Should the federal government be involved at all? Is it a Constitutional right under the 14th Amendment? Does it, instead, fall to the states under the 10th Amendment?
These are all questions that people try to roll up into one issue, but like I said, it's much more complicated than that and one ruling will not address them all. I'm betting this gets thrown to the states for them to decide. Some red states will ban abortions without exception. Some red states will ban abortions after a certain time period. Some blue states will allow abortions up to the moment of birth. Some blue states will allow abortions up to a certain time period.
Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, this is far from over...
