After almost 50 years, the issue of abortion is back in the hands of the American people after the Supreme Court overturned its ruling.
Both sides of the abortion debate were not surprised by the high court ruling, since a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked to Politico.
Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, said that this is a great day in American history, especially for the millions of children who will be spared from the horrors of abortion in the years to come. The DailySignal is a multimedia news organization.
Roberts said in part.
For too long, Roe v. Wade has poisoned our courts, our culture, and our laws. Today’s decision corrects the grave constitutional error of Roe v. Wade—and finally gives the American people, through their elected representatives, the power to fix America’s extreme abortion laws and enshrine protections for the unborn in law.
Conservatives criticized local and federal prosecutors for failing to enforce laws against intimidation after the leak of Alito's draft opinion.
The Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand nationwide in 1973.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution doesn't give Americans a right to abortion.
Alito wrote in the majority opinion that Roe was wrong from the beginning.
Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.
In December, the high court heard arguments in a case about a Mississippi law that prevents women from getting an abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Most Western European countries have similar abortion laws.
Alito wrote in his opinion.
Roe was on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided, Casey perpetuated its errors, and those errors do not concern some arcane corner of the law of little importance to the American people. Rather, wielding nothing but ‘raw judicial power,’ … the court usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people.
Here, you can read the opinions.
Alito was joined in the majority opinion by other justices. Both Thomas and Roberts wrote concurring opinions.
The vote to overturn the Mississippi abortion law was not 6-3, as Roberts disagreed, but was 5-5.
The three justices who are retiring after this term were the ones who filed a dissent.
The high court's decision doesn't mean a ban on abortion. There are laws that allow late-term abortions in some states.
See what happens when abortion is legalized in a particular state.
About 50 percent of the states have abortion restrictions on the books, while about 20 have laws to expand abortion.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, said in a written statement that the movement to protect life in law is on the side of innocent preborn children and their mothers.
More than 63 million people have died as a result of the cancer growing in our constitution. The court has cut it out and that is a victory. Building up a health society is going to affirm life for women and their children.
Jessica Anderson is the executive director of Heritage Action for America.
This victory for life is but the first step in our fight for the unborn. State and federal lawmakers will once again be free to advance protections for life. American public opinion has advanced with science –mothers have been able to see ultrasounds and hear their baby’s heartbeat at six weeks. Recognizing that, over the past 50 years Americans have steadily become more passionate about protecting life, and the 26 states with protections for life already in place reflect the desire of the American people to defend unborn babies.
Now, other states must follow the lead of governors in South Dakota, South Carolina, Florida, and Nebraska in calling for special sessions and new legislative initiatives to protect life, and our federal representatives should join the states in enacting new protections for life.
There were no threats of violence over the Supreme Court's official decision in the case.
The tactics and threats of groups that use destruction and violence as a means to end are not accepted by the pro- abortion groups. They don't speak for us or our movement. We will protect and expand access to abortion and reproductive freedom through peaceful, non-violent organizing.
Six days after the FBI announced a formal investigation into a series of attacks against churches, pregnancy resource centers, and other pro-life organizations, the agency seems to be following through but apparently has made no arrests.
The article was changed to reflect that the Supreme Court voted in favor of abortion rights.
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