Letters to the Editor
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There is some evidence
that parental notification laws actually increase the rate of minor abortions. If true, common sense would explain that many parents, when faced with their minor daughter's pregnancy, would counsel abortion, appreciating better than she the consequences of having and raising the child. Also, they would be better equipped to locate an abortion provider.
This strikes me as an issue that intelligent pro-choicers will not oppose as long as the requirements aren't too draconian. Existing abortion case law (Casey) puts the matter before state legislatures and will only intervene if states pass laws that constitute an "undue burden" on the woman's right. Therefore, the abortion battleground is in the legislative process at the state level. As such, in most cases, it is the voters who must be appealed to. Pro-choice people can further marginalize themselves very quickly by opposing parental notification laws. Most reasonable people think children should tell their parents about important things like pregnancy. Opposing that is a fight pro-choicers don't need to pick. They'll lose if they do.
On the other side of the coin, if pro-choice folks support parental notification, they will enhance their image with voters.

