CA Could Enshrine Abortion: Readers Weigh In

CALIFORNIA — Following the bombshell ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court to toss out Roe v. Wade, Golden State lawmakers moved swiftly to advance an amendment that would enshrine abortion in California's constitution.

In November, voters could amend the state constitution to shield those seeking abortion and contraception. The proposed constitutional amendment passed with ease through the state Legislature last week, qualifying it for the general election.

In a non-scientific survey, we asked readers whether California should make abortion a state constitutional right: 57.1 percent of respondents said "yes," 39.4 percent of respondents said "no" and 3.5 percent said they were unsure.

The Patch survey, which garnered 2,471 respondents, is meant not to be a scientific poll but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

"...we’re not waiting until November to take action, today’s executive order ensures that the state will not hand over patients who come here to receive care and will not extradite doctors who provide care to out-of-state patients here," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "In California, women will remain protected."

In California, where Democrats hold a supermajority, swaths of residents have vehemently rallied behind abortion rights. According to a survey from last summer, a record share of likely voters, 79 percent, did not want Roe. v. Wade overturned, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

We asked readers: Do you think Roe v. Wade should have been overturned? Some 58.3 percent of respondents said "no," 39.8 percent of respondents said "yes" and 1.9 percent of respondents said they were unsure.

Newsom last week also signed Assembly Bill 1666 into law, which is expected to protect abortion clinics, volunteers and patients from civil judgments imposed by other states. What's more, the state's proposed budget for next year also includes some $200 million for reproductive health care services.

"We must preserve the fundamental reproductive rights of women here in California because they are under attack," Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said Monday on the Assembly floor.

We asked readers to share their comments on the issue:

keeping abortion open with no restriction actually puts women's health at risk. we need a middle path not 100% open policy

Birth control is FREE and so is abstinence! They are killing innocent babies, God’s children whose names are in the Book of Life! God forms us BEFORE we are in the womb!
Overturning Roe v. Wade is impossing religious morals, instead of applying the law.

Abortion is not reproductive care - it is destructive.

In explaining abortion, do not say it is about woman's rights it is about protecting the life of the unborn. Say what it is.

This not addressed in the. US. Constitution

Understand the legal reasoning, but feel after 50 years, too late to overturn it
Murder by any other name is still murder.

Overturning Roe was the next step in turning the US into a Christian fundamentalist theocracy which needs to be stopped NOW.

I am disgusted by this very partisan Supreme Court taking away women's rights.

I feel that the rights of all women were sent back 50 years with that ruling. It’s sad that we’re allowing the government to tell us what to do with our bodies. I was there 50 years ago and I am ashamed of our I was there 50 years ago and I am ashamed of our country allowing this to happen.

Reinstate Roe v Wade.

Get your religion out of my state.

The current phrasing of the Constitutional Amendment is too broad. It would arguably allow abortions up to the point of birth. Not only is that morally problematic, is it bad politics as it will be used as a rallying cry by Republicans. This amendment should be vetted, not ramrodded through. There is no giant rush. We should get it right.

The ruling ended a 49-year-old protection and placed abortion policy at the discretion of the states, where dozens are already poised to ban the procedure. Newsom called the move an "attack on American freedom."

Newsom, along with the governors of Oregon and Washington, vowed to ramp up legal protections for abortion providers and to pour resources into opening more clinics as the states gear up for a possible influx in patients.

The states are "creating the West Coast offensive. A road map for other states to stand up for women," Newsom said. San Diego Democrat state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ran a women’s health clinic before entering politics.

“I hope that people are enraged,” Atkins told CalMatters. "While we feel like we have better protections here, and California is different, I hope they’re enraged and they understand what’s at stake."