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What began as an initial denunciation of Planned Parenthood opening in Juneau, such letters and columns have now become a unified voice, scaring citizens into anti-choice thinking and eventual anti-choice policy-making.

One recently debated topic is that of parental-consent laws. There is no reason to believe that the lives of pregnant teens, parents, and families as a whole will improve if this law is upheld, especially considering that 61 percent of teens already have abortions with their parent's knowledge.

The New Jersey Supreme Court agreed with this sentiment, citing that the parental-notice law "cannot transform a household with poor lines of communication into a paradigm of the perfect American family" (Planned Parenthood v. Farmer).

By sensationalizing and pamphleteering the 2003 case of the Alaska teen, anti-choice government officials and supporters have singled out an exceptional situation to generalize the abortion experience, completely ignoring the complexity and ultimately unconstitutional nature of parental-consent laws.

Statistics reveal that abortion rates are far less related to legal status than they are to levels of unintended pregnancy. In Chile, Nigeria and the Philippines, where abortion is illegal and unintended pregnancy is prevalent, the abortion rate is much higher than the United States.

In contrast, in Western European countries where legal abortions are provided, low levels of unintended pregnancy exist as well as the world's lowest abortion rates.

Contraceptive use is a key predictor of women's recourse to abortion (Allan Guttmacher Institute). This is why Planned Parenthood is needed, to lower the amount of unintended pregnancies through education and contraceptive use.

By terrorizing and generalizing the abortion experience, anti-choice supporters hope to gain momentum for their campaign to restrict Juneau and Alaska women from access to crucial family-planning resources and clinics.

With its extensive services to both females and males alike, Planned Parenthood will only benefit the community of Juneau. Planned Parenthood offers programs and advocacy to educate, empower and provide the means to keep all of us safe, and to make possible that every child be created with intention and love.

Sexuality is an innate trait; it is not something one "discovers" on the wedding night. Learning to be sexually responsible can be a difficult task, especially without critical information regarding risk and protection. Sexual abstinence is identified as the best means for protection from sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy; however, Planned Parenthood understands that the pressures and interest to have sex begin before secured adulthood.

Planned Parenthood will not turn the Juneau community into Temptation Island. How do I know? I currently live in a community with a Planned Parenthood, and I am grateful for its knowledgeable and trustworthy presence.

Sadly, it seems this issue has brought forth the martyrs "approved" by the state to adopt all un-aborted pregnancies; the Puritans likening comprehensive sex education to an elementary school field trip to the movie set of "Caligula"; and the voyeurs chasing down our teenage girls for tasteless interrogations about the condoms in their purses. These are not the members of society that I want making laws and decisions about my body.

So to those who are similarly stirred by the throng of anti-choice propaganda: Donate your time, resources and most importantly your voice. To protect the rights our mothers and grandmothers fought so hard to obtain, we must exercise vigilance. Attend a rally or fund-raiser, search the Web, educate yourself and do not abandon your voice in the face of anti-choice government officials, community leaders and supporters.

It is crucial that those who believe in the freedom to choose be heard, before the Last Frontier becomes la frontera: the borderline where our bodies stop belonging to ourselves, and the choices are no longer our own.

• Sarah Aronson was the assistant coordinator for the Sexual Awareness Center and the Voices for Planned Parenthood organizer for Mount Baker Planned Parenthood in Bellingham, Wash.