Sexual Health Buzz

Planned Parenthood Challenges Alaska Pro-Life Law

An Alaska school teacher and Planned Parenthood have filed suit seeking to block a ballot initiative that would mandate parental involvement with teens seeking abortions.

Anchorage high school teacher Susan Wingrove opposes the pro-life effort.

“I feel like the initiative isn’t clear about penalties for doctors and other issues and is overwhelming for many teens,” she said.

The Alaska Family Council is backing the initiative that says a parent must either be notified or give permission for the abortion. President Jim Minnery said he expected the opposition.

“It’s a tactic that they’ve taken across the country,” he said. “In every one of the 40 states where we now have parental consent or notification, they’ve stepped forward.”

The pro-family organization has to collect nearly 33,000 signatures to put the initiative on the August 2010 ballot. —Steve Jordahl

I have never been a fan of Planned Parenthood going against the family. Parents have a right to raise their kids and should be notified if their kids are trying to get birth control or to get an abortion. I think parents should be able to sign off on these things and really be there for their kids when they are discovering them in these very scary and and confusing situations.

In Nebraska a 17 year old can walk into their local Walgreens pharmacy and buy Plan B without parental consent too. I don’t think that’s right. I think parents need to be aware of what is going on with their kids. If you think your kids are not being tempted or participating in these sorts of activities then you are blinded by the reality that surrounds us in this world.

Some will say that many kids are being abused. Well, if that is the case then why isn’t Planned Parenthood notifying the authorities and getting child protective services involved?