As we hear more horror stories in the news from other states about women and young girls being forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term because abortion has been outlawed (even for cases of rape and/ or incest), I’m more thankful our state passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) protecting women’s right to choose whether to continue a life threatening, nonviable fetus, or unwanted pregnancy.

Here in Colorado, no young child will ever be forced by the state to become a parent against her will, and all women will make personal health decisions without government interference, a privilege men have always enjoyed.

I’m also thankful to our local elected state legislators who supported codifying these protections into law: State Sen. Pete Lee, State Rep. Tony Exum, and State Rep. Marc Snyder.

I’m curious: to all the Republicans who opposed making these protections the law, do you support forcing young girls or women to stay pregnant with their rapist’s child or that women do not have the right to make health decisions independently?

State Sen. Dennis Hisey, are these consequences what you intended when you voted against RHEA? Sen. Paul Lundeen? Sen. Larry Liston? Sen. Bob Gardner? Rep. Shane Sandridge? Rep. Dave Williams? Rep. Andy Pico? Rep. Tim Geitner? Rep. Terri Carver? Rep. Mary Bradfield?

These are important questions voters and reporters should be asking candidates who run for public office: Do you support forcing young girls and women to stay pregnant with their rapist’s child or denying women’s right to make independent health care decisions?

Their answers matter.

Linda L Nicks

Colorado Springs