Dear Editor:

There is a big difference between being anti-abortion and pro-life.

Pro-life means that when there is an expectant mother; we welcome that child into the world with a red carpet. We do whatever we can to assure that that child has a good home and a nurturing environment.

Pro-life means we provide early childhood education and daycare, we build schools and pay our teachers well to give the child the best chance to become a contributing member of society.

To be pro-life means to provide proper health care for mother and child. For unfortunate children without parents, we build a strong and responsible system of institutional support and foster care.

Being pro-life means to make the world safe for children such as reducing gun violence that kills thousands of children each year.

Being pro life means that we work toward a clean and healthy environment.

To be pro-life mean to understand the deep commitment, expensive sacrifice, and steadfast determination necessary to give each child every chance and opportunity to live a long, happy and fulfilling life.

On the other hand, the anti-abortion crowd fail to recognize that parenthood should be voluntary. To merely pass anti-abortion laws does not address any of the problems or difficulties of raising a child and compounds the problem by forcing unwilling to parents raise unwanted children.

Passing anti-abortion laws is a cheap and easy path to self righteous hypocrisy. It requires no sacrifice or commitment on their part, instead pushes the responsibility and consequences on the unprepared parents and the unwelcome child.

This is not just a women’s issue; it is a community concern. Too often the unwanted child grows up angry at the world, steals where they have been deprived of basic necessities, violent when frustrated, and dependent upon others when poorly educated.

Voluntary parenthood continues to be under attack by these self righteous meddlers. Now Planned Parenthood is the target. Please call Sens. King and Collins to let them know that Planned Parenthood should be supported in its mission to provide healthcare to millions of women.