Last week, the Arkansas legislature passed a bill that will ban an abortion after a fetus has a heartbeat, which is usually about 14 weeks after conception. This bill is expected to be quickly overturned as a direct violation of the 1974 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which states an abortion is legal until the fetus is viable and can sustain itself outside the womb, about 20 to 24 weeks. However, with a conservative majority holding the Supreme Court, a new precedent could be set. A trend in the United States has many wondering if the American opinion on abortion is changing.

The past presidential election brought an intense debate over women’s health, birth control and abortion. Although the GOP did not win, they were able to gain some moderates on these issues. There has been an extreme resurgence of pro-life movements across the country in the past two years. Here are some of the measures states have taken to “protect the family”:

* South Dakota, Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin have all passed legislation to limit insurance coverage of abortions in a backlash of the Affordable Care Act.

* Arizona, Tennessee and Oklahoma now ban telemedicine to be used with a patient who has taken an “abortion pill.” Missouri and nine other states are working to pass similar legislation.

* Utah now requires a 72-hour waiting period before a patient can be given an abortion no matter the health risks posed to the living patient.

* Arizona and South Dakota require women to undergo pre-abortion counseling that states the “negative mental health consequences of abortion.” These negative consequences in the long term are yet to be confirmed by the mental health community.

* Texas, along with 18 other states, now require an internal, personal ultrasound for any woman before she may have an abortion.

Each of these new regulations do not necessarily pose legal violations, but they do violate every woman in medical need. The 14-week limit does not take into consideration the fact that some diseases and defects cannot be detected before this time. This can threaten the quality of life of the baby and threaten the life of the mother. Although abortion is a sensitive subject, it is still a medical procedure and should be treated as such. Neglect on a government’s part to recognize this is a direct discrimination against women.

One thing I feel people forget is that being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. I have never been in the position to make a decision to the caliber of an abortion, and I deeply sympathize for anyone who has had to make such a tough decision. With this, I feel like I am in no position to tell someone they should or should not have an abortion — and this position I have is one I think politicians should take. If you do not believe abortion is morally right, the solution is simple: Do not have one.

I believe the government has far greater things to worry about in our country than violating women’s rights when it comes to a personal issue. These state legislatures should focus on improving resources in sexual education as unplanned pregnancy is easier dealt with as a social issue rather than a personal one. Increasing the availability of birth control methods and abortions has been proven to be more cost efficient than the social programs and foster care needed for a child born of an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. This also immediately lessens the amount of civil liberties the government would feel necessary to violate.

I am sick and tired of politicians trying to regulate my body. There is a movement in both federal and state governments that aims to place regulations on a woman’s rights and body, but they are not looking at the implications, nor are they looking at the big picture. States must start seeing abortion as a medical procedure, because there is only one person who can see the decision as an emotional one, and that is the woman whom it concerns.