Aside from all of this information about Bristol that is none of anyone's business but her family's, she is a minor and is living with her parents. Although she is nearing adulthood, she is NOT an adult. Despite her very adult (and immature choice) to have unprotected sex which resulted in a pregnancy, she is still under the custody of her parents.

I think that parents are vital in every aspect of their child's upbringing until adulthood. Even if that means signing a paper that states that the "child" (who willingly had unprotected sex and became pregnant) will not terminate a pregnancy. They are still a child and do not know how decisions might affect them later in life. They made the decision to have unprotected sex, they should deal with the consequences.

Bristol made a poor decision and now it's up to her parents to do damage control. Until she is 18 and on her own, I say her parents have every right to interject what they feel is right.

We need to stop teaching our kids that abortion is a good alternative to birth control, and actually teach safer sex practices.

I thought it was the left that was angry?

Yes, abortion is a medical procedure and an important decision. And it is facially inconsistent that this particular procedure (in some states) represents an exception to parents' right to be notified about and consent to invasive medical procedures. The difference: When a parent denies their child consent to an abortion (or tells them that she is going to hell if she gets one) she is exerting a level of control over her child that does not exist with any other medical procedure. Bristol Palin will know motherhood--but the experience of being young, footloose and fancy free is forever lost when a parent denies their child an abortion. Sarah Palin just slammed a lot of doors in her daughter's face. Let's not indulge the fiction that Bristol Palin really had the option of getting the parental go-ahead for an abortion.

bugmenot:

They are still a child and do not know how decisions might affect them later in life. They made the decision to have unprotected sex, they should deal with the consequences.

First off, only Bristol and her boyfriend know whether the sex was unprotect, or the cirth control failed. Every method has a failure rate.

However, the larger point. Does any woman know how a decision to abort or not to abort will affect her later in life? Should every abortion be brought before a council of elders to vote upon, since those women "do not know how [these] decisions might affect them later in life"?

While we are at it, does anyone know how any decision might affect him later in life? My husband made a decision to go on a green light, and became disabled as a result. Obviously, no one is capable of deciding anything for himself, and only the state is capable of deciding anything for anyone, if that is a criteria.

Resistance is futile.

What the...resistence is futile?

It doesn't matter what your decision is because everything is left to fate and might be crappy in the end? Dude...who peed in YOUR cherrios.

I personally agree with the assertion that having an adult involved in the decision making process, who's body is not coursing with the hormones of adolesence and pregnancy, is a GOOD thing. Have you ever BEEN pregnant? I'm on #4, and let me tell you...if "patience" was a sport at the Olympics...my husband would be the Michael Phelps of that event.

Bristol Palin will know motherhood--but the experience of being young, footloose and fancy free is forever lost when a parent denies their child an abortion. Sarah Palin just slammed a lot of doors in her daughter's face.

Whoa there hoss! SARAH just slammed a lot of doors?!? Did she force Bristol to have sex and get knocked up?

News-freaking-flash: Being adult enough to have sex means being adult enough to deal with the results. Yeah, Bristol will no longer be 'young, footloose and fancy free.' That's what we normal adults call CONSEQUENCES.

I can't believe that someone is arguing with a straight face that a parent is doing a child a disservice by NOT killing that child's fetus, conceived through immaturity and irresponsiblity, so that said child can continue being 'footloose and fancy free.'

guamania:

Being adult enough to have sex means being adult enough to deal with the results.

But if a teen decides to "deal with the results" by having an abortion, they aren't "adult enough" to make that decision without the consent of their parents? If a teenager only conceives a child through "immaturity and irrresponsibility," how are they suddenly mature and responsible enough to be a parent?

groovechampion, you're not overly familiar with the concept of sarcasm, apparently. You missed the boat big time on that one.