And our unfortunate steps backwards in the progress we've made to allow every woman to have a choice continues. Anti-choicers in South Dakota have collected more than enough signatures to get an initiative put on the November ballot to put a near-ban abortion in the entire state. Some of you may recall that also in 2006, opponents of abortion tried to pass this same ban. The only difference between the 2006 ban and the 2008 ban is that this year's ban allows abortion in the event to save the mother's life, as well as in cases of rape or incest. Well, I suppose a few exceptions is better than none, but the flaws in this near-ban are overwhelming:

A woman would have to report rape or incest to police before seeking an abortion to qualify for that exception. "A woman who is the victim of incest and is 13, being raped by her father, is highly unlikely to report that," said Sarah Stoesz, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.

TRUE. Many women who are raped are extremely ashamed, embarassed, and distraught, and are therefore reluctant to report it. Additionally, if this ban passes, women are going to turn to spending hundreds of dollars on gas money to travel to another state to obtain an abortion, or will use unsafe methods or illegitimate doctors. Abortion bans are terribly dangerous.

And someone please explain to me: what kind of world do we live in when a woman doesn't have complete control over her body?

It disgusts me. If you want to learn more, you can visit the website for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Click on "take action" to find out ways you can get involved to keep abortions safe and legal.

Below is a really interesting video, part of the Speaking of Sex Podcast, that shows interviews with faculty and supporters in South Dakota regarding how they beat the abortion ban in 2006.