"In addition, statistics indicate that restricting access to abortion does nothing to reduce the number of abortions that take place; instead it causes major public health risks and discriminates against the poor " (Sprague, Lee 1). Many women would still opt to get abortions even if they are illegal because it is their right to do so. Back-alley abortions are very unsanitary and dangerous. Due to complications, back-alley abortions are known to cause the deaths of 70,000 women all over the world (Haney 41). These 70,000 lives could be saved if the government would take a stand and end the abortion debate once and for all by rescinding any legislation prohibiting women from these rights.
Although the word "abortion " does not appear in the Constitution, the right to having an abortion is still protected under the Ninth Amendment of the Bill of Rights. To settle the conflict between the Antifederalists and the Federalists, the writers of the Constitution threw in a few specific rights (Amendments One through Eight) to fulfill the desires of the Antifederalists. The rest of the rights of a United States citizen would be protected under the Ninth Amendment, which states, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people " ("Amendment IX " 1). The Federalists did not want to list every right of a citizen, fearful of interpreters to believe that list was complete. Among these "enumerated rights " is the right to privacy, especially with one's own body. The National Constitution Center states "The Supreme Court has found that unenumerated rights include such important rights as the right to travel, the right to vote, the right to keep personal matters private and to make important decisions about one's health care or body " ("Amendment IX " 1). Having the right to make a decision about one's own health care or body should truncate any further argument about making abortions illegal, because then the government would be dictating what women can and cannot do with their own bodies.
