Let’s cut to the chase. So-called pro-life groups are not limiting their goals to the banning of late term abortions, or even all abortions. They are employing strategies that would ultimately eliminate most reliable forms of birth control and dictate everyone’s reproductive life.

Anti-choice groups abide by the mantra that “life begins at conception” and have unilaterally decided that women are obligated to bring a zygote to full term, regardless of circumstances. In February, Florida Representatives Charles Van Zant (R-Palatka) and Chris Dorworth (R-Lake Mary) filed a bill that would have banned abortion in Florida and which further declared, “The Legislature of the people of the State of Florida finds that all life comes from the Creator and begins at conception.”

While the best way to decrease abortion rates is to decrease unwanted pregnancy, the (presumably) unintended consequences of declaring a fertilized egg an “unborn child” will be to increase unplanned pregnancies. By trying to get their religious beliefs translated into law, these legislators (Van Zant is a Baptist minister and Dorworth boasts of having a 100% voting record with the Christian Coalition of Florida) and anti-choice organizations are attempting to create a situation that would make any form of birth control that prevented implantation of a fertilized egg murder.  And most reliable methods act, at least in part, to prevent implantation of fertilized eggs.

Say goodbye to oral contraceptives, the iud, Depo shots, hormone patches, “morning after” pills. Say hello to condoms (15-20% failure rate),the rhythm method (25% failure rate), withdrawal (20% failure rate), and that old standby, abstinence (0% failure rate, but not so endearing to your loved one).

The majority of the U.S. public is pro-choice, by definition if not by self-labeling. The results of myriad polls indicate that the American public doesn’t like the idea of abortion (who does?) but overwhelmingly supports the right of women to choose for themselves. Guess what? If the vocal minority has its way, you, your wife or girlfriend, your sister, your daughter will not only lose her right to make the best decision for herself and her family concerning abortion but may very well lose the right to choose to reliably avoid pregnancy in the first place.