Dear Governor Greg Abbott,
While being the average college student in California, I have heard about your new laws regarding abortion. I know that most people have heard about it because a lot of people on different platforms have been vocal in their opinions on this matter. I understand that abortion is a susceptible topic, but I need to address the new law you signed into effect. The law you passed bans abortion procedures as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. That is the strictest abortion law in the united states. You also signed a law that prevents women from mail-ordering abortion medication seven weeks into their pregnancy. I am writing this to you to have you consider how women feel about this law and how it is affecting women’s lives.
This new law goes against a decision made by the Supreme Court back in 1973. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court dealt with Roe v Wade, and it ended in favor of women having the right to choose whether or not they want to have an abortion without restrictions from the government. This new law goes directly against the case that the courts went in favor of.
I understand you might be questioning why is a college student from California considered a law you passed in Texas. I am a woman who has the rights you took away from so many women in Texas. These women in Texas should be given the same rights as people who live in different states. Just because I do not live in Texas does not mean that I should ignore the issue that is currently going on there.
This new law bans abortions after six weeks. To compare this to California laws, a woman can legally have an abortion until the fetus is deemed viable or at any point in time if the abortion is necessary to protect the life of the mother. I understand that seems like one extreme to another, but those are the abortion laws where I live.
Governor Abbott, I understand you are trying to do what is best for your state. A state you spent most of your life in, being born in Texas and grew up in, but this new law is not what is best for your state. You are a man. That is the first notable difference between you and any person who can get pregnant, a woman. However, you have women in your life. You have a daughter; Audrey is probably a significant person in your life. Ask any parent, including you, I assume, and their children mean the world to them. Even though your daughter is 23 that does not mean you care any less for her than, say a 6-year-old child. I am 20 years old, and I know for a fact my parents still love and care for me and still want to protect me, which I assume is also the case with you and Audrey.
I understand abortion is a very sensitive topic, but do you think that women who have abortions do not know this and have not considered all of their options. With this law, you are taking away a choice. People do not come to the decision lightly, there are a variety of different reasons as to why someone would have an abortion. Some reasons include financial struggles, not being mentally or physically ready to have a child, physical health, and having certain opinions on adoption. Yes, adoption would be a way to have a child but not have to raise it but everyone has their own opinions on adoption and foster care systems. People’s reasoning is not limited to those that I have listed, but the reasoning should not matter. Whatever the reasoning, they should have as many options as possible. This law is taking away one of the options that people have when they are put in a situation where they are pregnant and unable to provide for the baby.
You signing this law will not get rid of abortions, just safe abortions, or people in need will go to a different state to get the procedure done if that is what it needs to come to. Therefore you are not getting rid of them, just making them harder to access. As I mentioned one reason for getting an abortion could be for financial reasons, because they are no longer legal in Texas someone will have to pay more for the procedure or medication. Whether the more be in Texas or as a result of having to go to another state to get an abortion.
I know you think you are helping but you are not a woman. I do not think a man should be able to dictate what a woman can and can’t do. You cannot understand what someone in this position would feel like or their thought process because you will never be in this position yourself. Instead of trying to mandate what women can do with their body try to understand that abortions are a very sensitive position and sometimes it is the only thing that can be done.
That law also adds a form of humiliation and judgment. Someone in this position does not want to be judged by anyone who has no idea what it is like to go through that scenario. A person going through with an abortion already has enough going on and does not need extra laws making this process harder than it is.
I know you believe by signing this law you would end abortions in your state, but you are just ending safe and judgment-free abortions. If someone is in need of abortion they will ultimately find a way to either get an abortion in another state or to do it unsafely in the state of Texas.
Sincerely,
Trinity Hall
While being the average college student in California, I have heard about your new laws regarding abortion. I know that most people have heard about it because a lot of people on different platforms have been vocal in their opinions on this matter. I understand that abortion is a susceptible topic, but I need to address the new law you signed into effect. The law you passed bans abortion procedures as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. That is the strictest abortion law in the united states. You also signed a law that prevents women from mail-ordering abortion medication seven weeks into their pregnancy. I am writing this to you to have you consider how women feel about this law and how it is affecting women’s lives.
This new law goes against a decision made by the Supreme Court back in 1973. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court dealt with Roe v Wade, and it ended in favor of women having the right to choose whether or not they want to have an abortion without restrictions from the government. This new law goes directly against the case that the courts went in favor of.
I understand you might be questioning why is a college student from California considered a law you passed in Texas. I am a woman who has the rights you took away from so many women in Texas. These women in Texas should be given the same rights as people who live in different states. Just because I do not live in Texas does not mean that I should ignore the issue that is currently going on there.
This new law bans abortions after six weeks. To compare this to California laws, a woman can legally have an abortion until the fetus is deemed viable or at any point in time if the abortion is necessary to protect the life of the mother. I understand that seems like one extreme to another, but those are the abortion laws where I live.
Governor Abbott, I understand you are trying to do what is best for your state. A state you spent most of your life in, being born in Texas and grew up in, but this new law is not what is best for your state. You are a man. That is the first notable difference between you and any person who can get pregnant, a woman. However, you have women in your life. You have a daughter; Audrey is probably a significant person in your life. Ask any parent, including you, I assume, and their children mean the world to them. Even though your daughter is 23 that does not mean you care any less for her than, say a 6-year-old child. I am 20 years old, and I know for a fact my parents still love and care for me and still want to protect me, which I assume is also the case with you and Audrey.
I understand abortion is a very sensitive topic, but do you think that women who have abortions do not know this and have not considered all of their options. With this law, you are taking away a choice. People do not come to the decision lightly, there are a variety of different reasons as to why someone would have an abortion. Some reasons include financial struggles, not being mentally or physically ready to have a child, physical health, and having certain opinions on adoption. Yes, adoption would be a way to have a child but not have to raise it but everyone has their own opinions on adoption and foster care systems. People’s reasoning is not limited to those that I have listed, but the reasoning should not matter. Whatever the reasoning, they should have as many options as possible. This law is taking away one of the options that people have when they are put in a situation where they are pregnant and unable to provide for the baby.
You signing this law will not get rid of abortions, just safe abortions, or people in need will go to a different state to get the procedure done if that is what it needs to come to. Therefore you are not getting rid of them, just making them harder to access. As I mentioned one reason for getting an abortion could be for financial reasons, because they are no longer legal in Texas someone will have to pay more for the procedure or medication. Whether the more be in Texas or as a result of having to go to another state to get an abortion.
I know you think you are helping but you are not a woman. I do not think a man should be able to dictate what a woman can and can’t do. You cannot understand what someone in this position would feel like or their thought process because you will never be in this position yourself. Instead of trying to mandate what women can do with their body try to understand that abortions are a very sensitive position and sometimes it is the only thing that can be done.
That law also adds a form of humiliation and judgment. Someone in this position does not want to be judged by anyone who has no idea what it is like to go through that scenario. A person going through with an abortion already has enough going on and does not need extra laws making this process harder than it is.
I know you believe by signing this law you would end abortions in your state, but you are just ending safe and judgment-free abortions. If someone is in need of abortion they will ultimately find a way to either get an abortion in another state or to do it unsafely in the state of Texas.
Sincerely,
Trinity Hall