If Roe Ruling Is Reversed

In his column “If Roe Goes, States Will War on Abortion” (Op-Ed Page, Nov. 13), Neale R. Peirce paints a very bleak picture of the United States if abortion becomes illegal. However, many of Peirce’s suppositions are unfounded. An anti-abortion law would not generate Peirce’s effects of Prohibition-type resistance or black-market abortion drugs.

First, Peirce tries to compare the abortion issue to Prohibition. However, fewer people are involved in abortion than were ever involved in Prohibition. Prohibition touched many people’s lives since drinking alcohol is a far more common practice than having an abortion. Although there is a strong opposition to anti-abortion laws, it will never be as strong as anti-Prohibition forces.

Second, Peirce argues that the French abortion pill, RU-486, will be made in other laboratories and sold on the black market. Illegal AIDS medicine is available in other countries, but it is not produced in laboratories and sold on the U.S. black market. Moreover, there are other birth control methods available, so why would a woman spend a great deal of money to purchase RU-486?

The abortion issue is indeed controversial, however, I do not believe that an anti-abortion decision would cause as much turmoil as Peirce suggests. Vice President George Bush has clearly stated his anti-abortion stand, and his presidential victory indicates that the majority of Americans favor that position.

ERIK MORTENSON

La Jolla