1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The proposed legislation H.R. 722 seeks to establish a constitutional right to life for both born and unborn human beings, effectively banning abortion nationwide. However, such a sweeping restriction on reproductive rights represents an unacceptable infringement on the bodily autonomy and personal freedoms of millions of Americans. This bill fails to account for the complex realities faced by those seeking abortions, including cases of rape, incest, severe fetal abnormalities, or threats to the life of the pregnant person. Criminalizing abortion will not stop the practice, but merely drive it underground into unsafe and unregulated channels, endangering lives. Furthermore, the notion of bestowing constitutional personhood on fertilized eggs and embryos is scientifically dubious and philosophically contentious. This legislation imposes a single narrow moral view on a diverse nation with divergent ethical beliefs. For the sake of reproductive justice and personal liberty, I urge the strongest possible opposition to H.R. 722. Restrictions this draconian will cause immense suffering while doing little to address the root societal factors that shape abortion rates. A woman's right to make decisions about her own body is a fundamental human right that must be safeguarded.