New Abortion Wars

Law student Burton developed the personhood initiative.

Because the implications are so far-reaching, abortion-rights leaders say that they're confident all ban proposals will fail. Libertarian Colorado is a long shot, at best. Even among the state's Republicans, a full 50 percent consider themselves pro-abortion rights, according to a 2005 poll. Of all the states, Georgia is most likely to pass a personhood measure, but whether or not the Supreme Court acts—or how—is an open question.

"There are five members of the court who support Roe," insists O'Steen of National Right to Life. And even if that were not the case, many believe that while the court might approve further restrictions on abortion, it would never overturn such a prominent piece of jurisprudence. "The institutional and reputational damage...would be too great," says David Garrow, a historian and expert in abortion law. But young Kristi Burton is just one of many who believe ending abortion is a moral imperative. "I always think right now is the right time to do what is right." Of course, what has brought the country to this point today is that for the past three decades, the abortion-rights movement has felt the same way.