The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Ryan Chapman's Oct. 12 column "Scary Times for Roe v. Wade" contains some factual errors that need to be corrected.

Chapman incorrectly states that Roe "solely" created abortion rights in this country. In fact, between 1967 and 1973, the year Roe was decided, four states - Alaska, Hawaii, New York and Washington - repealed their abortion bans, while 13 others enacted limited reforms. Even before Roe was decided, lawsuits challenging criminal abortion laws had begun to work their way through the courts in more than a dozen states.

Before Roe, the need for access to safe and legal abortion was overwhelming and clear. In 1965, for example, abortion was so unsafe that 17 percent of all deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth were the result of illegal abortion.

Chapman also incorrectly says that Roe created "the pro-life and pro-choice camps as we know them today." In fact, Planned Parenthood has been advocating for safe and legal abortion for almost 90 years now - well before Roe was decided - and we are proud to continue the important work of preventing unintended pregnancies to reduce the need for abortion.

Chapman's piece was about politics, not about helping women. Planned Parenthood believes access to comprehensive health care is the real solution. After all, the ability to control your own fertility is a fundamental human right, and in this country, a constitutionally protected one.

For more information, please come to a CSU Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood meeting. Our meeting times can be found at www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/csuvox

Daniel Kessler

Public affairs

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

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