Because 7 percent of the procedures performed at the women's health center are abortions. That small piece of the business brings with it fear, threats and a security burden not seen in any other kind of business in this region. The front door is always locked. Bullet-resistant glass has been installed, and the first story windows are barred. And the staff is trained yearly on what to expect and how to react to security threats.
Vigilance is the key word.
Mental, emotional and financial resources have to be spent on simply maintaining a safe work environment for any clinic that performs any abortions. I resent it. Started in 1973 after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalized abortion, the center has long since branched out from abortions to family planning. In recent years it has become a comprehensive gynecological health care provider, offering women of all ages services such as breast cancer screening, AIDS prevention counseling and testing, and pre-conception health. But it hasn't lost its heart.