I would like to address a few of Ms. Hopkins’ concerns on the Freedom of Choice Act in her letter to the editor.

First, FOCA would not simply put “stipulations on abortions performed prior to viability,” but would overturn almost all current state and federal restrictions on abortion, including “conscience clauses,” which allow a physician to refuse to perform a procedure to which they are morally opposed. It would also require all hospitals to perform abortions, including those run by the Catholic Church, who have stated they would prefer to shut down their hospitals.

Second, FOCA was first introduced in 1989 and has been continually reintroduced since then. President (then Senator) Obama stated at a Planned Parenthood conference on July 17, 2007, “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing that I’d do.”

Considering the recurring nature of FOCA, Obama’s prior comments and that his party now has a majority in the legislature, there is certainly cause for concern. The FOCA fliers about campus have a purpose and are certainly less of a waste than the continual condom and Spring Break trip ads littering most of the classrooms right now.

Matthew Sparks

computer engineering sophomore