Readers comment on the draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, more

Drop the filibuster

The U.S. Senate could perhaps pass an abortion bill right now, this very week, allowing any and all abortions upon demand. All they must do is drop the filibuster and allow majority rule. Republican Mitch McConnell had no qualms about dropping it for one of the most important issues the Senate ever faces, picking a Supreme Court justice.

One of the worst excuses I have heard for not dropping the filibuster is that any bills the Democrats pass can be reversed when the Republicans take over. Of course, this is true. That is majority rule. But we don’t know when and if the Republicans well win, we don’t know what the outlook of the country will be in a few years. We cannot read the future.

To avoid passing a law just because you think it might be reversed later is totally absurd.

Duane Colwell, Keystone Heights

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Questions for chief justice

After reading the draft of the Roe v. Wade position by Justice Samuel Alito and the apparent support of some other justices, I was moved to write to the chief justice of the Supreme Court asking a number of questions.

Do the justices not care about: Child rape? Adult rape? Domestic violence rape? The life of a women who’s been told she will die if she carries the baby full term? A woman who’s been told the child’s life is not viable? A woman who dies because an abortion was attempted without a trained professional?

A woman too poor to support a child and has no support? A woman who faces a lifetime of poverty because she couldn’t finish school? (Two-thirds of families started by teens are poor.) Do the justices not know an unwanted child increases the odds of crime in the community when a child reaches his/her mid-teens?

On top of all this, some of the justices lied when questioned about positions on Roe v. Wade, claiming to believe it was settled law. Is it any wonder you’ve lost the trust of the American public?

I asked for him to establish the same basic rules of ethics for the justices that he expects of others who come before the court.

Alice Gridley, Gainesville

Equal responsibility

The current debate regarding Roe v. Wade focuses on two primary “rights”: 1) a woman’s right to end an unwanted pregnancy and 2) the right of the fetus to survive to full-term, with the mother responsibly providing the physiological/medical supports needed for a healthy pregnancy.

What are the fathers’ responsibilities for these zygotes and fetuses — from conception through pregnancy to adulthood?

Legislation to limit access to abortion needs to include authorization for and resources to verify the father (DNA analysis) and legally and require him to provide additional resources — financially, medically, nutritionally — to support the well-being of mother and unborn child during pregnancy. I suggest a legislative act to create a DNA data base for all males, used only to identify paternity, then hold these fathers accountable for the wellbeing of fetuses.

It is only fair that fathers share equal responsibility. If legislators do not hold fathers responsible, then women should not be held responsible.

Fathers already have the "right to choose." Women need the “right to choose,” unless action is taken to legally require a father to uphold his responsibility as well.

Karen Kilgore, Gainesville

What’s next?

Where are we going?

If we don’t stand up, where will we be?

First our children are not allowed, in Florida and other states, to read certain books (the Nazis burned books that were viewed as subversive to the Nazi ideology during World War II). What is next — restrictions to prevent teachers from teaching the truth about current events, science or any subject?

If Roe v. Wade is struck down, what is next? What is wrong with a woman having the right to make her own informed decision? Or rather, why is freedom of choice not allowed?

Is “Handmaid’s Tale” next?

Elaine Golman, Gainesville

It takes two

If abortions, abortion pills and contraception become banned for women, will a condom, maybe even Viagra, for men be taken away too? Or will men be able to continue to use a condom while women have no choice in the use of birth control?

Is it a banning for all or just one particular gender? It's not a one-sided issue. It takes two to create a baby.

Leasa Gilland, Keystone Heights

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters on overturning Roe vs. Wade, filibuster, Florida laws, more