When you talk to liberals about the “war on women,” it almost always begins with "reproductive rights" and how women do not have safe "reproductive healthcare", especially when it comes to abortion. However, they may want to review that argument after throwing a fit when a federal appeals court recently upheld Texas’s new regulations on abortion clinics, designed to ensure they meet the sort of building and clinical codes that other outpatient surgical facilities do.
The Associated Press on Tuesday appeared sympathetic to abortion advocates, publishing a story -- accessible here via Statesman.com -- on how the decision made by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could (soon) leave only seven abortion clinics “in a state of 27 million people.” Of course, considering probably more than half of the 27 million people living in Texas are male, and some percentage of that are women who are prolife or who wouldn’t choose to utilize abortion services, that number doesn’t seem so big anymore.
The article by the AP's Paul Weber laments the Republican-backed restrictions “that require abortion clinics to meet hospital-level operating standards, a checklist that includes rules on minimum room sizes, staffing levels and air ventilation systems.” Abortion and women’s "reproductive health" advocates shouldn’t have a problem with this law since it makes sure women are offered the safest "reproductive healthcare" services in the State of Texas. After all the horror stories of unsterilized and unsafe conditions at abortion clinics, not being sedated or properly medicated, or where parts of the unborn child, or "fetus" as the AP prefers are still left inside, you would think they might actually welcome such a bill.
In 2012, Texas had 41 abortion clinics. After these new “restrictions” took effect -- let’s be honest, these are requirements or regulations…the AP only used “restrictions” because it sounds punitive -- Weber made a point to mention only seven abortion clinics would (possibly) be left in Texas, seeing as they can satisfy the requirements of the new law. Isn't the real story how shocking it is to discover that 34 of the 41 clinics didn’t reach the safety requirements needed to maintain an open status?
Weber noted these new “restrictions" would only leave abortion clinics open in the major cities of Texas, thereby supposedly stranding those women seeking abortions. There are three ways to solve this, one – which Weber did suggest – is to travel across state lines. The other option? Well, if you believe in abortion and the “war on women," demand these facilities meet the requirements to provide a safe and healthy environment for women and the reproductive health they so champion. Surely there are enough well-heeled abortion-supporting Texans who can put their money where their mouths are to upgrade these existing abortion facilities.
Oh, and the third way? Don't have an abortion.
