Sample Letters to the Editor

Guidelines:

• Keep them short
• Make them specific
• Make sure they are to the point
• Try to keep them local
• Always give the proposition number 85 and say “Yes” or “support”

Samples:

Dear Editor,

Since my 14-year-old granddaughter can’t see R-rated movies without her parents and can’t even get an aspirin from the school nurse without her parents’ permission, why is it that the law allows her to get a secret abortion without telling her mom and dad, who love her more than anything?

I will make sure my family and friends vote YES for the Parents’ Right to Know and Child Protection initiative, Proposition 85, on Nov. 7. I urge everyone else to do the same.

Gretchen Harrington
Bakersfield

Dear Editor,

We loathe the idea that if our daughters got pregnant and were scared to tell us, the law would encourage young girls to run to an abortionist who does not know them and cares little for their future.

For the love of parents of their children, we encourage voters to study the text of Proposition 85 and think hard about who knows and loves children more—their parents or a stranger who stands to profit from performing an operation on her. Vote Yes on 85.

Susan and Tom Redson
Santa Rosa

Dear Editor,

I find it amusing with all the talk about pedophiles and chasing them into the desert with Jessica’s Law, that few editorials are written about older adult boyfriends using abortions as a way of covering up their statutory rape of young girls.

Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers are, by their own testimony in Sacramento, not reporting the cases where an older boyfriend impregnates the younger girl.

Hopefully the voters of the state will wake up and pass Proposition 85 in November.

This will make sure at least one parent knows a doctor is performing an abortion on a young girl and at least the parent can find out what is going on and report it to the authorities.

Maria Rodriguez
Moreno Valley

Dear Editor,

Planned Parenthood tells us that Prop 85 would cause “govenment interference” in family matters. In fact, the government already interferes between parents and children, by paying for minors to have free Medi-Cal abortions behind their parents’ backs.

Planned Parenthood doesn’t mind that sort of “government interference,” because it puts millions of dollars every year in their pockets.

Vote YES on Prop 85 and put parents back in the equation.

Katrina Winn
Lake Tahoe

Dear Editor,

Planned Parenthood ads oppose Proposition 85 because it threatens “teen safety.”

In California, parental consent is required before a surgical procedure (other than abortion) is performed on a minor child, except in an emergency. For obvious reasons this standard of care is required because it promotes the safety of the child undergoing the surgical procedure.

Currently a pregnant minor girl is sent to an anonymous doctor for a surgical abortion (paid with public dollars) without informing a parent. This is a lower standard of care and poor public health for this population of young girls.

Prop 85 will promote a young girl’s safety by raising the standard of care afforded to minors undergoing other surgical procedures. Please support Proposition 85 November 7.

Pablo Jiminez
Stockton