Abortions in Illinois

I would think that the number of abortions in Illinois would open the eyes of legislators that are opposed to making IL an open records state. In 2006 there were a total of 46,467 . Data was from Centers for Disease Control and the State Health Department. Estimates were from Alan Guttmacher Surveys.

Abortions in Alabama and Oregon have decreased since they have become open records states. Alabama decreased from 13,273 in 1999 to 11,654 in 2006. Abortions in Oregon were 14,145 in 1999 and 11,663 in 2006. The number of abortions was not available for Maine and New Hampshire.

Alaska and Kansas have always been open states. In 2006 Alaska had 1,923 abortions and Kansas 5,778.

There is an old argument that opening records will increase the number of abortions. But the above data proves that this is not true. Numbers don't lie and I find it alarming that there were over 40,000 more abortions in 2006 in Illinois than in Alaska and Kansas who have always been open records states.

If I were an IL legislator opposed to open records, I'd not be able to sleep at night knowing that closed records could be contributing to the death of an unborn. Plus closed records are robbing adoptees of their civil right to request and receive their original birth certificate. Closed records are contributing to loved ones being separated for many years. So just who is being helped from closed records?