LETTER: Maintain A Woman's Right To Choose

The following letter to the editor was submitted to Patch by Harleysville resident Kimberly McCollum. To submit a letter to the editor at Patch, email justin.heinze@patch.com.

Dear Editor:

I’m writing to express concern on women’s bodily rights, being legislated by an uninformed state senator. Senate Bill 3 was co sponsored by Senator Bob Mensch. This bill will remove federal abortion rights from women. This will amend the Abortion Control Act, to reduce the maximum gestational age for legal abortions from 24 to 20 weeks. Ultrasound abnormalities are found after 18 weeks for a pregnant mother, now she will only have 2 weeks to come up with funds, family support, transportation, and make the hardest decision of her life. Why did he co sponsor the limiting of women’s decision-making capacities?

I asked the Senator if I could count on him to condemn legislation that restricts women’s rights to their bodies. He gave a disturbing answer, quoting a non-medical, inflammatory term: “dismemberment." This bill charges the medical professional with a felony of the 3rd degree for performing the service for a woman. He is willing to send someone to prison based on inflammatory ideologies. The only exception for a woman to be allowed the 24 week period, is imminent death. A woman whom was the victim of rape or incest is excluded. Why did he co sponsor a bill that does not consider a woman’s abortion for rape or incest?

I would like to see elected officials concerned about the women in the counties they govern, instead of creating a boogey man stigma. I would like to see State Senator Bob Mensch consider women and health professionals when it comes to banning women’s reproductive rights.

I urge your readers to contact State Senator Bob Mensch and disagree with his co sponsorship of Senate Bill 3, and urge him to make informed decision on women’s reproductive rights in the future.

Sincerely,

Kimberly McCollum

Harleysville, PA

Patch file photo