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Today's call-in on the 13-year-old Florida girl who had to go to court to get an abortion -- despite the fact that Florida does not require parental consent -- generated much response. Here is a selection of the e-mails we received:

Even in the paternalistic shelter system and the paternalistic legal system, this young woman has asserted her sovereignty over her own body. At 13, I am certain I would have been able to make such a decision. All 13 year old young women should be allowed to make sexual and reproductive choices freely- and be able to say "yes" or "no," depending on their own choice.
--J.R.

All this talk of a 13 year old not being able to consent sounds a bit gratuitous to me. Unfortunately, there are young boys and girls consenting to sex all the time. The best way to curb abortion and the rest of the world's ills is through education, not through ham-handedly outlawing abortion.
--J.E.

When you're under 16, either your parents or the state (in legal decisions) is responsible for your life. One can easily think of examples, including inheritance, which is just fine with liberals to give the state money, or with the death penalty, where liberals argue the state shouldn't kill people who are guilty even of the most heinous crimes. But with abortions? No way. Get the state out. Liberals can have a very selective sense of principle.
--A.T.