Ahsen Malik for Congress
Abortion: The Bold Truth
The issue of abortion is one of the most sensitive topics for many voters. Like most Americans, I am pro-choice in the early stages of pregnancy and pro-life in the late stages of pregnancy. Banning late term abortions, with the exception of when the mother’s life is at risk, is not controversial — even Roe v. Wade did not protect a right to an abortion in the last trimester.
Let’s be honest: the passionate activists on both sides believe the other side to be supporting the “moral equivalent of slavery.” Most Americans in the middle don’t view it this way and would like a broad compromise that accommodates both sides.
If you are pro-choice, I understand that compromise is difficult, especially given how the legal landscape has shifted since Dobbs. But I believe the pro-choice side can still secure a strong, durable outcome here. If you are pro-life, I respect your belief that human life begins at conception. But that is your theological belief, and hence abortion in the early stage of pregnancy is a religious liberty issue. Why should a Jewish woman, Muslim woman, Hindu woman, or liberal Christian woman be forced into the theological opinion of conservative Christians? How is that fair?
For the sake of the unity of our nation, I am open to two potential compromises.
| “15 for 15”: Completely Federal (mimics many European democracies) | “9 for 19”: Partially Federal, Partially State |
|---|---|
| A guaranteed right for a woman to have an instant abortion on demand (no waiting periods, no bureaucracy, etc.) within the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. A federal ban on abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy, with exceptions such as the pregnancy being harmful to the life of the mother. No woman should be criminalized for any harm that happens to her fetus during a pregnancy. | A guaranteed right for a woman to have an instant abortion on demand (no waiting periods, no bureaucracy, etc.) within the first 9 weeks of pregnancy. An exclusively states-rights issue in weeks 9–19. After week 9, states would be free to ban abortion completely without any exceptions, or permit abortion completely without any restrictions. A federal ban on abortion after the 19th week of pregnancy, with exceptions such as the pregnancy being harmful to the life of the mother. No woman should be criminalized for any harm that happens to her fetus during a pregnancy. |
The pro-life side might counter with leaving the issue of abortion completely to the states. Right now they don’t believe that — rather, they believe in “having your cake and eating it too.” For example, those in the pro-life movement pushing for a federal ban on abortion at 15 weeks also support state legislatures completely banning abortion. If they are actually serious about the compromise of leaving the issue completely to the states — i.e., a federal law that would explicitly state that the issue of abortion is exclusively left to the states — that would be a major concession for many on the pro-choice side, but it might be worth considering. However, there is currently no broad support among the pro-life movement for such a bill.