Lethal law

Abortion Present: Federal Freedom of Choice Act may reverse some of the gains made against abortion on the state level | Lynn Vincent

Associated Press/Photo by Rogelio Solis

As a young mother, Terri Herring had no political ambitions. But at age 25, while in the hospital after the birth of her third son, some pro-life activists came in and photographed the new baby with Herring's obstetrician, Beverly McMillan.

McMillan had the dubious distinction of having opened the first abortion clinic in the state of Mississippi. But after converting to Christianity, she quit the abortion business and became a vocal advocate for the unborn. The activists who visited Herring that day, friends of McMillan's, asked Herring if they could publish the photo they'd snapped on the cover of a pro-life magazine.

Herring said yes—and also started asking questions.

Questions like, how long into a pregnancy can a woman have an abortion? And, if a young girl gets an abortion, does she have to tell her parents?