Margaret Barry

New Hampshire’s motto, Live Free or Die, is a declaration of personal liberty and self-determination. That freedom must include the right for women to make their own reproductive choices without government interference. To deny abortion rights is to strip women of the ability to control their futures, forcing them into life-altering situations in a state where the cost of living is high, wages do not always keep up, and support systems for parents—especially single mothers—are severely lacking. With median home prices exceeding $400,000 and childcare costs surpassing $12,000 per year for an infant, the financial strain of raising a child is immense. Meanwhile, men are not legally required to stay and provide, leaving women to bear the full weight of pregnancy and parenthood. Even those with supportive partners face the reality of limited paid family leave, expensive healthcare, and an overburdened childcare system. The state’s refusal to protect abortion access does not create a culture of life—it creates a cycle of economic hardship, forcing many into poverty simply because they could not access care. If New Hampshire truly believes in Live Free or Die, it must uphold the fundamental right of women to decide their own futures. Reproductive freedom is a cornerstone of personal liberty, and enshrining abortion rights in state law is the only way to ensure that women in New Hampshire can truly live free.