The choice erosion

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Though Roe v. Wade is still intact, there has been no shortage of proposed legislation aimed at further limiting a woman’s right to choose. In the past six years, 157 such bills were proposed to Congress and more than 400 like-minded measures were introduced in state legislatures.

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While most of the legislation did not pass or was later overturned, anti-abortion activists and organizations have turned to the more guerilla tactics of harassment, sabotage, and malpractice suits — and they have worked swimmingly. So well in fact that 84 percent of US counties now do not have an abortion provider, says IN THESE TIMES.

Local anti-abortion activism has worked so well that at the state level there are countless ways abortions are restricted — 30 states must read patients government-produced, pro-childbearing literature; 32 states require women to have the consent of one or both parents; and many require a waiting period between the initial visit and the procedure.

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It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to devote the time and resources to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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