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Leaders were right to repeal notification

State Rep. Amy Grant (anti-notification bill opens doors for abusers, Nov. 15) offers a recitation of talking points that failed to persuade lawmakers before the vote to repeal the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act in late October. As a mother, I can tell you that the talking points don't match up to reality.

Opponents suggest PNA protects young people. The truth is that most young people tell a parent about their decision to access an abortion. The younger the individual, the more likely they are to include a parent. This was true before PNA was enforced eight years ago, and it has been true during enforcement of the law.

Rather than protect young people, the law put in danger a small number of young people who could not tell a parent or close adult about their decision - out of fear of abuse, abandonment or for some other reason they well know.

Opponents also concoct fantasies of young people being saved from abuse or human trafficking as a result of PNA enforcement. These claims ignore the reality experience seemn by experts who work each day with survivors of trafficking. They told the legislators that enforcing PNA has no impact on detecting or stopping human trafficking.

Most of all, we hear once again about a single poll showing broad opposition to the repeal of PNA. There is little surprising about this result. Most of us want to be involved in the lives of our young people. But what we want for ourselves is not the reality for too many in our state.

The reality is that PNA was designed for one reason alone - deny access to abortion for some in our state. It is good to see Illinois reject the tide of anti-abortion measures across the country and assure access for all.

Tracey Salvatore

Schaumburg

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