The FDA announced this week that it will allow the “Morning After Pill” to be sold to underage girls without a doctor’s prescription. This is a logical follow-on to everything else the Obama Administration has done to encourage abortion. It is a “victory” for Planned Parenthood – which demanded that MAP be made available to all comers without prescription back in the Clinton days.

While Planned Parenthood may count it a blessing – they are certainly not alone. No doubt there is rejoicing among male predators as well, who use the drug the escape detection for their crimes.

Even for girls in non-abusive relationships, this decision is no blessing. Easier access to MAP will no doubt increase reliance upon it as a primary form of birth control. That may well pose a serious health problem over time. (No studies have been conducted on the long-term health consequences of swallowing mega-doses of hormonal drugs, especially on developing females).

What is certain is an increase in sexual activity, with its attendant rise in sexually transmitted disease rates – as well as more preborn children created and destroyed through chemical abortions.

This tragic development lends even more urgency to our efforts at the Legislature to enact HB216 – conscience protections for Idaho pharmacists. There is not much the Idaho Senate can do about the FDA, or Obama’s obsession with increasing the nation’s abortion rates. But it does have an opportunity to encourage pharmacists with a conscience to refuse to participate in dispensing death to teenage girls.

While the debate drags on about Gov. Otter’s transportation plans – perhaps the Senate can spend a couple hours moving HB216 into Idaho Code.