Parental notification law long overdue in New Jersey
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
New Jersey is one of 14 states without a parental notification law. A law passed in 2004 was knocked down when our State Supreme Court ruled that our State Constitution disallowed it. Consequently, the only way New Jersey can succeed in getting this much needed law is to have a constitutional amendment approved by the legislature and the voters.
In New Jersey a 13 year-old can undergo a surgical abortion without her parents’ knowledge; the child is denied parental guidance in this life changing decision. Yet, she may not have her ears pierced, be given an aspirin at school, or see an R-rated movie without parental approval.
Minor girls often lack the maturity to make a good decision in these matters and should not be able to undergo any medical procedure, including abortion, without the counsel and consent of their parents who love them. In cases where there may be parental abuse, the parental notification laws provide a judicial bypass procedure.
A parental notification law protects against sexual predators; they’ll no longer be able to take a minor girl for an abortion.
Statistics demonstrate that in states where parental notification laws have been enacted, both the number of abortions and the number of teenage pregnancies have declined. It is time for the legislature to protect our children.
W. James White | Hamilton
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New Jersey is one of 14 states without a parental notification law. A law passed in 2004 was knocked down when our State Supreme Court ruled that our State Constitution disallowed it. Consequently, the only way New Jersey can succeed in getting this much needed law is to have a constitutional amendment approved by the legislature and the voters.
In New Jersey a 13 year-old can undergo a surgical abortion without her parents’ knowledge; the child is denied parental guidance in this life changing decision. Yet, she may not have her ears pierced, be given an aspirin at school, or see an R-rated movie without parental approval.
Minor girls often lack the maturity to make a good decision in these matters and should not be able to undergo any medical procedure, including abortion, without the counsel and consent of their parents who love them. In cases where there may be parental abuse, the parental notification laws provide a judicial bypass procedure.
A parental notification law protects against sexual predators; they’ll no longer be able to take a minor girl for an abortion.
Statistics demonstrate that in states where parental notification laws have been enacted, both the number of abortions and the number of teenage pregnancies have declined. It is time for the legislature to protect our children.
W. James White | Hamilton
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