Thursday, July 16, 2009 - Written by Laurie O'Connell

But in rural areas like Northern California and throughout most of the country today, access is severely limited by a lack of doctors as well as cultural and socioeconomic challenges.

And with anti-abortion terrorism on the rise, it's even more essential to improve access and ensure our safety. In addition to legislation for increased funding for women's clinics and physician training and placement, law enforcement must step up to help us retain this elemental right to govern our own bodies -- without fear of judgment, interference or violence -- in the law of the land, in our medical clinics and on our streets.