Parents need a say in abortion decision

In it I wrote, "Gas pipeline, who cares? Raise taxes on the oil industry, go ahead. Mat Maid, dogs on ball fields, the IM program, city budget, fireworks ban, irrelevant.

"There is only one issue facing Alaskans and it is this. A 13-year-old girl can today walk into Planned Parenthood and get an abortion without her parents' knowledge or permission."

Now some 14 months after I wrote that, I am devastated to report my words didn't make a bit if difference. To this day, a young girl can still walk into an abortion clinic in Alaska without the knowledge of her parents and have a major medical procedure. She can have her baby killed without her parents ever knowing.

What's worse, even if the young child's parents knew in advance about the abortion, there would be nothing dad or mom could do about it. In Alaska government stands firm between you and child when it comes to parenting and it doesn't seem to bother us.

Since writing that column in late 2007, I have heard very little on the parental consent issue.

The governor has stepped in and done the right thing in her appointment of a new justice to the Alaska Supreme court. This new justice seems to be an interpreter of the constitution, undoing the previous make-up of the court that legislated from the bench.

If the Alaska Legislature can pass another law calling for parental consent, it should hold up with the new Supreme Court, thanks to the governor.

But with Democrat Hollis French in control in the Senate that is highly unlikely. Unless so-called pro-life Republicans break up the collation stripping French of his Judiciary chairmanship.

What is baffling about all this is how French can get away with standing between you and your child and no one seems to care. Not the mainstream media, not most politicians. Where is the outrage?

Is it that so many of us have just signed onto the fact that abortion is nothing more than the removing of tissue or the equivalent of pulling a tooth?

I understand a large portion of our state believes abortion is morally acceptable. Or they haven't given it much thought. Many have bought into the line that it should be a mother's choice, even if it is murder. But even those who support abortion should oppose a young teenage girl making the decision to have the major medical procedure without her parents.

Keep in mind that for kids whose parents abuse them, there are safeguards in place to take the decision out of the parents' hands.

And what about those who believe abortion is the taking of a life? Those who believe to condone abortion is to sit by and do nothing about the killing of an indefensible, innocent and helpless child. Where is the outcry from pro-lifers?

I don't hear a peep. Do you? I understand politicians like Sen. French catering to his culture- of-death constituents and refusing to release the parental consent bill out of his committee.

But what about pro-life Republican politicians? Are they pro life in name only knowing it will endear them with the conservative base?

On the national front, President Barack Obama is promising to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. The act would effectively gut any state regulations regarding abortion. There are serious questions about the constitutionality of the legislation and the US Supreme Court is sure to take the case.

Regardless of what the feds do, the question is what are we as a state going to do about the fact that a young girl can end the life of her baby without her parents being involved. It's heartbreaking.

Dan Fagan is a radio talk show host on KFQD, 750 AM. E-mail, faganreport@me.com.