If a girl isn't mature enough to decide not to have a child, how could she possibly be mature enough to raise one? Certainly raising a child requires infinitely more maturity than having an abortion. You can't have it both ways: if a girl is considered old enough to be a parent, she must be at least old enough to decide whether to be one.

Parental consent is not legally necessary to have a child; all requiring it for abortion does is force girls to have children they don't want. Those who say parents have a right to decide are more concerned about parental control and authority than about good parenting. With parents who are anti-abortion or abusive, even requiring notification could be enough to prevent a girl from seeking an abortion.

What about the child's right to a responsible and willing mother--especially in this complex and dangerous world? Does a 15-year-old mother also need parental consent on how to raise her child? Or does becoming a mother make her magically responsible and free from parental authority? If it does not, who is the ultimate authority for the baby--its grandparents? To not look at complex implications beyond the womb is truly irresponsible. Saying teenage girls are too young to make the decision without parental consent, but old enough to be parents is absurd.