A lot is being made about abortion and reproductive rights during the presidential election cycle. Most people think Roe v Wade gave women unfettered access to abortions. To some extent, I guess that’s true.

However, most people don’t realize Roe v Wade did contain some limitations in abortion access. I think it’s important that we revisit the decision to appreciate what the truth was/is.

In January 1973, the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, legalized abortion nationwide. In the majority opinion, written by Justice Blackmun, the Court held a women’s right to an abortion was implicit in her right to privacy under the 14th Amendment.

Basically, the court divided a pregnancy into three trimesters, deciding the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the first trimester was solely at the discretion of the woman. In the second trimester, the government can regulate abortion, but it could not ban it, in order to protect the life of the mother.

During the third trimester, the state could ban abortion to protect a fetus that could live outside the womb on it own, except when a woman’s health was in danger.

Since Roe was overturned earlier this year, Democrats have campaigned on the promise to enact the precept of Roe v Wade. In other words, they have vowed to enact a law that would allow abortion access as outline in Roe v Wade.

Again, the Roe decision does not call for unfettered access to abortion at any time during a pregnancy. Only during the first trimester does a woman have the sole discretion whether to terminate the pregnancy. After that time, the government/state can regulate or ban abortion depending on the length of pregnancy up to that point.

Now, I want to be clear, Democrats have NOT encourage all women to have abortions! Show me one ad, either electronic or written, that shows a Democrat calling for women to have abortions! You know what? You can’t – because they don’t exist.

Instead, Democrats advocate for women to make such decisions for themselves. Democrats do not feel the government should interfere with such personal decisions. Thus, the term “pro choice” – the woman should be free to choose her own path.

For a party (the GOP) who advocates for smaller government and freedom of choice (mask mandates – remember that brouhaha?), it’s ironic they would insist on the right to interfere with medical decisions that have nothing to do with them!

The GOP in general, and Trump/Vance specifically, have totally misled the American people regarding the ramifications of overturning Roe. Trump continually touts that every Democrat, every Republican, everyone wanted Roe overturned and the abortion issue to be given to the states. That’s not true at all.

Initially, I do think the majority of Republicans hailed the Dobbs decision (that overturned Roe) as a victory. However, once the consequence became known – stories of real women traumatized by untreated miscarriages whose lives were endangered and whose reproductive possibilities were endangered – I think Republicans “saw the light”.

Suddenly, the old adage “Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it” had a whole new meaning! And it wasn’t pretty.

Current polls indicate most Americans, including most Republicans, now favor abortion access in certain instances. This is a no brainer for me. Abortions will continue one way or another. I’d prefer if they were not conducted in back alleys under less than ideal circumstances.

Yes, bring back Roe. The limitations within the decision were reasonable.

IMHO . . .