I am writing you to comment on the thoughts expressed in Ms. Isabel Mattia’s letter printed in the July 12 issue of the Portsmouth Times. I would be honored if you print this letter, hopefully in your other publications as well.

Ms. Mattie’s letter urges residents to vote for representatives that will support unlimited abortions in the event that the Supreme Court reverses its Roe vs. Wade decision. It will be recalled that in making that decision, the Court could not decide when life began and so it allowed abortions to be legal.

There is no question in a case where a young person is murdered. Clearly that is against all classes of law. How about the day before that person was born? Clearly all the parts are in place and if taken by operation, the child will survive. It was a live person.

We know that with proper medical care, premature babies as young as five months have a good chance of surviving. The ability to survive premature birth has steadily moved to younger and younger fetuses, depending on the skill of the doctors and the equipment they have to work with. Heart beats have been detected only a few weeks after conception.

At a recent medical show, I witnessed preserved fetuses from one month after conception up to nine months. Even at one month, the fetus has all the physical attributes of a human being. Since 1973, 61 million babies have been aborted/murdered — approximately 20 percent of our entire U.S. population. How could this be in a civilized country?

These abortions are justified as woman’s freedom of choice, or woman’s health. With all the many contraception means, and “morning after” pills and medical procedures available to prevent pregnancy, how can abortion be justified? Women have choices! Also, there are waiting lines of women waiting to adopt babies. Some even import them from foreign countries

I have had the privilege of holding four daughters, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild in my arms shortly after their birth and witnessing their growth over the years. I can’t for the life of me understand how any anyone would willingly allow a baby to be killed unless, of course, the life of the mother requires it. It is my sincere hope that our elected representatives share my beliefs.

Millions for health and child care, but not one cent for murder!

John F. Brady

Portsmouth