Iowa Planned Parenthood Under Fire for Morning After Pill Giveaway 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 23, 2006
Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) — Planned Parenthood of Iowa is coming under fire from pro-life advocates for organizing a day next month where it will give away the morning after pill to anyone who comes to its facilities. The abortion business will make the Plan B drug, which normally ranges in cost from $30-$40, available to anyone for free.
Pro-life advocates said Iowa Planned Parenthood is empowering rapists to force the women they sexually abuse to use the drug so they can cover up their crimes.
"I think the fact they are handing this out to men is outrageous," Rachel Cunningham of the Iowa Family Policy Center told the Des Moines Register newspaper.
"I don’t think I’ve ever seen a campaign that would better enable abusive men to hide their crimes," she added.
Cunningham said the Plan B drug makes it easier for someone to hide a sexually abusive relationship or one instance of rape or incest.
Kathi Di Nicola of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa didn’t respond to the charges but simply told the newspaper that the Food and Drug Administration allows men to purchase the drug.
Drug stores across the country started selling the morning after pill over the counter last week after the FDA allowed such sales in August. However, the FDA put in place a requirement that the drug only be dispensed to people over the age of 18.
Though Planned Parenthood’s 15 centers will require anyone getting the free morning after pills to be over the age of 18, the giveaway makes it easier for a teenager with an older sibling or friend to get the drug when they should be seeing a doctor instead.
Even with the requirement, girls under the age of 18 can still get the free Plan B drugs form the Planned Parenthood facilities as long as they fill out some paperwork and listen to a pro-abortion counselor.
Jill June, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, defended the giveaway in comments to the Register.
"We know the vast majority of Americans and people in our own communities in Iowa … very much believe in and support the use of birth control," she said.
The giveaway day is slated for December 6.
ACTION: Call Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa and voice your concerns about their program. You can reach them at 1-877-811-PLAN (7526).
