# Is "The right to Choose" real without reasonable access?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-right-to-choose-real-without-reasonable-access/785722>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 2, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-right-to-choose-real-without-reasonable-access/785722 "2017-05-02T15:45:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 88

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-right-to-choose-real-without-reasonable-access/785722/88 "2017-05-03T14:23:47Z")

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> [@adaher](#):
>
> A right exists whether or not it can be exercised as a practical matter. As long as the government isn’t interfering, the right is not being violated. I’d add to that that as long as civil society isn’t also conspiring to violate the right, it’s not being violated, since I do recall that even when governments didn’t censor local communities often did through mob violence.
> 
> But as long as abortion is limited by providers willing to provide the service, the right is in fine shape. In practice of course, abortion clinics do not meet demand due to threats of violence and pro-life states imposing regulations intended to shut them down. But there is also the unwillingness factor. Doctors have conscience rights, so there will always be somewhat less availability than desired.

Yeah…but _this_ thread is about direct interference/prevention of a constitutional right by the State.

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