Abortion is a states’ rights issue, as each state represents unique constituencies. Right now, states have limited control over abortion policy as U.S. Supreme Court precedent allows for elective abortions through all nine months of pregnancy. Currently in the Supreme Court is a case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a response to a Mississippi law seeking to ban abortions after 15 weeks, when we know an unborn baby can feel pain. If the Supreme Court rules in Dobbs’ favor, states, not unclear judicial overreach, would have abortion regulation authority. The proposed Mississippi pro-life law is not extreme. It is current U.S. abortion policy that is extreme. The U.S. is one of only seven countries that allow abortion past 20 weeks.

In Oregon, the most likely outcome of this decision would leave our laws intact because Oregon has no legal protection for a developing human at any stage until birth. While Oregon is an extreme pro-abortion state, there are other states that represent different constituencies who seek to protect the unborn and should have the constitutional right to do so.

Jo Nielsen, West Linn