Brunswick Beacon, 05.02.24
President Kennedy challenged Americans to become pioneers of a “New Frontier” to meet the challenges of “uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice.”
By ending a woman’s constitutional right to choose, Donald Trump condemned Americans to the “Wild Frontier” of 1864, when states’ rights enabled slavery. “I was able to kill Roe v. Wade,” Trump bragged: “The states will determine” whether women have the right to control their own bodies.
Arizona’s Supreme Court, appointed entirely by Republicans, revived an 1864 abortion ban without exception for rape or incest. The law was passed by Arizona House Speaker William Claude Jones, described in the Journal of Arizona History as a “prevaricator” and “pursuer of nubile young females.” Jones resigned after being accused of abducting a twelve-year-old girl.
Jones enacted his law 56 years before women could vote, 48 years before Arizona statehood, and 18 years before the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
66% of Arizona voters say they disapprove of the ban. This includes 82% of Democrats, 66% of Independents, and 49% of Republicans who reject Jones’ barbaric law. Arizona’s Republican legislature twice blocked Democrats’ efforts to repeal it before finally relenting.
States with restrictive abortion laws have created a wild frontier for women’s health. Doctors risk incarceration or loss of license for violating often vague laws. Hospitals refuse to provide routine health services.
A Texas woman miscarried in an emergency room because staff refused to admit her. Hours after a Florida hospital turned a woman away, she learned that her fetus had no heartbeat. In North Carolina, a hospital refused to give an ultrasound to a pregnant woman complaining of stomach pain. She gave birth in her car on the way to another hospital. The baby died.
Our legislature has a Republican supermajority. Mark Robinson, Republican nominee for governor, promised to sign a bill banning abortion “for any reason.” If Republicans win, North Carolina will become the next MAGA wild frontier.
Michael Maisel
Sunset Beach