> I don't get it - this seems like sophistry. Isn't the end result the same, i.e. nationally permitting abortion? I'd argue whether or not this is sophistry de

> I don't get it - this seems like sophistry. Isn't the end result the same, i.e. nationally permitting abortion? I'd argue whether or not this is sophistry depends on how you view rights. If you only have rights when the government grants you rights, then yes, this is sophistry. Taking this to the extreme, however, one could main the claim that people are not allowed to do do innocuous actions like jumping jacks unless the government legislates that it's allowed. However, if you instead take the more reasonable position that individuals have all rights except those curtailed by the government for the sake of maintaining a stable social contract, then it's not sophistry. In Roe, the court ruled that the right to an abortion, within certain limitations, is not one of the rights that governments can curtail.