Civil_Liberties_and_Rights_in_America

Civil Liberties and Rights in America POS/110 October 2, 2011 Civil Liberties and Rights in America The right to privacy is a civil liberty every American enjoys. The right to privacy is an important freedom for everyone everywhere not just in certain states. Women in America should have the right to do whatever she feels is best for her. The street law website states, “The fourteenth amendment says not state shall deny to any person with in justification the equal protection of the laws.” Women in America are concerned states having different laws concerning abortion. Women have different reasons for wanting or needing an abortion. Some women may be restrictive to the laws and her life could be in danger. The law in Texas states women cannot receive an abortion unless her life could be in danger. This restriction on abortion infringes on the civil liberties of women in the United States. Personally, I believe women should have the right to receive an abortion under certain circumstances. I agree with the law in Texas to a point. I feel if the woman’s life is in jeopardy, if the pregnancy is a result of a rape, or if the fetus is not developing normally are the only reasons I think a woman should receive an abortion. This may be hypocritical of me, but I believe an abortion should not be a justification for birth control. I feel strongly about the right of a woman to choose life or to choose an abortion. Public policy protects the rights of women to choose to receive an abortion or not. Planned Parenthood organizations give women the option of birth control, an abortion, and adoption to women wanting to avoid a pregnancy or adoption as a choice. Having choices is what women should have no matter what state she lives in. I personally believe in the public policy and Planned Parenthood. I think women should have options involving such an important issue. I think having options and choices is a part of an American’s rights and freedoms. In 2007 a court defends a federal ban on “partial birth” abortions. The case of Gonzales v Carhart stated an abortion in the third trimester of a pregnancy is not “medically indicated.” I personally think a partial abortion should only be done if the life of a woman is in jeopardy. Under any other circumstances the decision to terminate the pregnancy should have been made earlier in the pregnancy. The Associated Press (2008) addressed if Oklahoma’s law is constitutional or unconstitutional. Oklahoma is involved in a lawsuit with an advocacy group because the law in Oklahoma states a woman cannot receive an abortion until she has an ultrasound and is told what the fetus will look like. The Center for Reproductive Rights believes this infringes on the rights of the woman. The Center for Reproductive Rights also believes laws in Oklahoma could harm the woman and hurts the dignity of the woman. What I have learned from the article is how little freedom and rights American women has concerning her body. If a woman is forced to watch an ultrasound of a fetus the woman wants to abort what freedom or choices does American woman really have' Many in today’s society have not been supportive of abortions. Some of the strives made in the past five years has been negative. For example, Sulzberger (2011) stated Dr. Mila Means wanted to open an abortion clinic in Wichita Kansas. Dr. Mila Means received a letter in the mail telling her to check under her car every morning. The letter stated, “Because maybe today is the day someone places an explosive under it.” Dr. Mila Means did not back down from opening the abortion clinic in Wichita Kansas. Another strive people and groups have made is not backing down from cowardly threats against abortion centers and Planned Parenthood centers. People and organizations are standing up for their rights and freedoms. The right to privacy falls under the category of civil liberties. I think the reason the right to privacy falls under the civil liberties because nowhere in the Constitution protects the right to privacy. The right to privacy involving abortions differs from state to state. I think more protection is needed for the civil liberty right to privacy. Very little is mentioned about the right to privacy. Privacy should be protected. Everyone in the United States value his or her privacy. The United States would not be as wonderful as it is without privacy. Privacy should be a basic necessity for everyone in America. Freedom and privacy should go hand in hand. Law makers need to fight for the privacy of the citizens they represent. In conclusion, the right to privacy is not represented well in the Constitution and varies from state to state. Abortion is frowned upon by many Americans. If a woman chooses to receive an abortion she should have the right. State law varies on the abortion issue. Women are hurting because of the varying laws. Usually poorer women suffer from the different state laws. If a woman cannot receive an abortion because of the state law the woman’s life may be in danger. Society is divided on the abortion issue. Supporters like Planned Parenthood centers are receiving constant threats and violence against them because they believe women should have the right to choose what is best for her. I believe in the right of a woman to choose life or not. I think civil liberties should be protected more. Privacy is one of the most important freedoms Americans should have. References Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court (2011). Classifying Arguments. Retrieved from http://www.streetlaw.org//en/Page.Landmark.Roe.activities.classify.aspx Sulzberger, A.G. (2011). Wichita Doctor Takes Up Fight For Abortions. Retrieved from the University of Phoenix Library collection database. The Associated Press (2008). Oklahoma Law: Constitutional or Unconstitutional' Retrieved from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/abortion.htm The Court Upholds a Federal Ban on “Partial Birth” Abortions (2011). Retrieved from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/abortion.htm