In the state of Alabama, the “Human Life Protection Act” was recently signed in order to ban nearly all abortions in state with no exception for rape or incest. The bill also states that any doctor that conducts an in-clinic abortion will be charged with a Class A felony, punishable by up to 99 years.

This act has nothing to do with morality and everything to do with strategy. The strategy is to stoke the fires around the topic of abortion so that the Supreme Court must revisit Roe v Wade. Although Democratic voters have good intentions, bringing the matter to the Supreme Court and getting the ban removed once and for all, for the time being, they have put the lives of many women in danger.

We have come to a point in politics where the only way to get what we want is by playing games and deceiving people. Yes, politics are very important to keep a country in order, but doing so with strategic games is childish. Taking away rights to get rights. Taking a life to save a life. What happened to simply voting for what we want? Democrats have resorted to voting for what they don’t want just to show that it can happen, forcing the Supreme Court to revisit the notion.

It should never have come to the point where the rights of women’s bodies could be taken away. As a country, we have made amazing strides towards women’s rights and equality, and now we’re going back to the beginning. Was it all for nothing? Women fought for decades to gain voting rights, equal pay, equal education opportunities, and many more basic rights that are just handed to men. Women have gained all of these rights, but the right to their own body is now up for grabs.

The governor of Alabama signed the bill in support of religious beliefs.

“To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God,” explained Governor Ivey.

Ivey must have forgotten that the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Although the people of Alabama have the right to practice whatever religion they choose, the select few in higher positions should not get to make rules based on their religion, forcing everyone in the state of Alabama to abide. If you choose to not get an abortion because it is against your religion, good for you. But you don’t get to choose what other women decide to do. If you’re against abortions, simply don’t get one. Forcing other women to not get abortions will not only fail, but it is also unconstitutional.

No matter what laws are set, no matter what the penalty is, women will have abortions. It won’t be nearly as safe, but it will happen because you cannot force a woman to bear a child they don’t want. And it is as simple as that. So let’s stop playing political games and fix what is in front of us.