Monday, June 11, 2012

Sex-Selective Abortions Gaining National Attention

So, abortion is not only legal, but it is a constitutional right.

That puts it right up there with the right not to be discriminated against.

So, what should happen if someone were to get the notion that it should be illegal to discriminate in performing abortions based on the sex of the child? In other words, you can't abort a child just because it is either male or female.

That would pit constitutional right against civil right, wouldn't it?

And, someone did happen on this idea, and a congressman did introduce legislation to ban such abortions.

They call this type of abortion sex-selective abortion, and although it might not be overly common in the United States, it does occur. The idea is to allow parents to select the sex of the child, tossing out the unwanted sex until the favored one comes along.

The bill failed, but who knows but what the issue will be raised again.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/us/politics/house-rejects-bill-to-ban-sex-selective-abortions.html?

I find it difficult to take a stand on this issue. I'm certainly against abortion, but this approach seems to suggest a simple law can trump a constitutional law. As long as Roe v. Wade stands, it carries with it the weight of the Constitution. I would rather see efforts against abortion seek to remove the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade.

No comments:

Post a Comment