Abortion is one of those hot-button issues where bias—whether moral, religious or political—too often gets in the way of the facts. Too frequently we see opinions dressed up as truths on the news or on Capitol Hill, and this misinformation forms a foundation on which many Americans base their understanding.

In an effort to cut through some of the fog, the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that does reproductive health research and education, has released a short video. It’s clear, simple and—most importantly—factually accurate.

—Meg Gibbon, 19, Contributor

Birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and, yes, abortion are vitally important health care services. Planned Parenthood makes sure millions of people—including many who are young and uninsured—receive these services. Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics save lives and tax dollars in the long-term, and that should be the bottom line in any discussion over federal funding.

This is what makes the February 18th House of Representatives 240 to 185 vote to eliminate Planned Parenthood’s federal funding so shocking, heartbreaking and, ultimately, dangerous. The legislation didn’t pass the Senate, but budget negotiations are under way. If conservative members of Congress strip away funding, 63 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics may close, putting many young and low income people at risk across the country.

Many people take offense to Planned Parenthood’s abortion procedures, but overlook the fact that legislation already prevents government funds from being spent on abortion. Representatives claimed that any federal money lets Planned Parenthood take care of its other expenses, “freeing up” money for abortions. Such a hostile, shortsighted position fails to consider the other essential health care that Planned Parenthood provides. In fact, only three percent of Planned Parenthood’s services are abortions, which means that the overwhelming majority of their services and funding has nothing to do with abortion. But even so, lest we forget, abortion is legal in the U.S.: Planned Parenthood has as much a right to provide abortions with its own funding as it does to use federal funding to perform STD tests. Any religious or ethical objections to abortion should not—and absolutely must not—prevent providing support for vital services like cancer screening and STD testing.

Other representatives argue that Planned Parenthood is an expense we cannot afford. Can Americans truly deny a pregnant woman a cancer screening, one she may be unable to otherwise receive, with the excuse that this is a tough financial year? Following the vote in the House, Representative Barbara Lee called the decision and its motive a “war on women.” As far as I’m concerned, we’re facing nothing less.

—Meg Gibbon, 19, Contributor

Whenever the subject of abortion is raised, it’s rare that controversy doesn’t follow. Feelings about the issue can be very strong and incredibly divisive. But no matter which stance we take, one thing is hard to argue: facing an unplanned pregnancy is rarely easy, especially for teens. MTV’s No Easy Decision is a special that focuses on this situation. The show, which first aired last December, features three teens who choose to end their unplanned pregnancies.

No Easy Decision respectfully shares the stories of teens Katie, Markai and Natalia without judgment, emphasizing the complexity of their circumstances and the steps each takes to learn about her choices. They consider adoption and the realities of parenting. (Markai, for instance, worries about her college plans and financial future). The show provides an honest description of the situations teens can face when dealing with unplanned pregnancies and, at times, is very moving.

No Easy Decision gives voice to a subject that is not often discussed in the open in such a frank and sensitive way. Already facing what is indeed “no easy decision,” these teens have also found the courage to share their stories. And even if some viewers may disagree with their decisions, their strength and willingness to reach out to viewers, who might themselves be facing the same choice, is worth respecting.

—Meg Gibbon, 19, Contributor

In the United States, 34 states require women to receive counseling before having abortions—a policy that definitely doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Seven states, though, specifically warn women about negative psychological consequences of having an abortion. But this raises a big question: Does abortion actually cause mental health problems?

The American Psychological Association (APA) concluded in 2008 that abortion does not cause adult women to have mental health issues, and a study by Jocelyn T. Warren and her colleagues at Oregon State University recently revealed the same for teenagers. This study, which was the first to specifically research our age group, found that abortion does not lead to depression or low self-esteem in teens.

The new data comes from a nationwide survey of teenagers called the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. It compared pregnant teenagers who chose to have abortions with those who did not, and found the first group about as mentally healthy as the second. This news means we must take a closer look at the counseling women receive before having abortions. After two studies that show abortion doesn’t cause mental health problems, why are there states with laws warning women that abortion will psychologically harm them? The researchers even claim that warning women of mental health risks may actually be harmful because it increases anxiety surrounding the decision to terminate a pregnancy.

Since such an overly negative warning may not be accurate, or might even be biased, it also prevents women from making well-informed choices. When making a decision as important as whether or not to end a pregnancy, women need to receive correct, impartial information about the mental and physical consequences of the procedure. We need studies like Warren’s, and more of them, to make sure that women are as well-informed as possible when it comes to abortion.

—Meg Gibbon, 18, Contributor

On Sunday, Dr. George R. Tiller, a late-term abortion provider in Kansas, was murdered while attending church services. For years, Dr. Tiller had been threatened and harassed by anti-abortion supporters: He was shot in both arms and his clinic was bombed and vandalized.

Dr. Tiller’s murder comes a few weeks after President Obama called on Americans to have an open and honest debate on abortion. Obama said he was “shocked and outraged” by the murder. “However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence,” he said.

We often forget about the power of words. Dr. Tiller was called a “murderer” and “baby killer,” and his murder is a tragic example of how words can incite violence. While Tiller was physically and verbally attacked, not all people who are anti-choice condone violence. In fact, Operation Rescue, an anti-choice organization, has spoken out strongly against the murder of Dr. Tiller. And while people on both sides of the abortion issue feel very strongly, we can all agree that violence is never the answer.

It would be great if we—whether we’re pro- or anti-choice—could come together in support of preventing unplanned pregnancies and addressing those hard ethical questions that come up when a woman’s life is endangered by a pregnancy.