Wal-Mart stores in Massachusetts are required to carry the morning-after pill because of a ruling by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy Feb. 14.

Earlier this month, three Massachusetts women took the Wal-Mart corporation to court claiming that the store refused to sell them the morning-after pill.

The case was planned in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Jane Doe, Inc.

The basis of their accusations was the Massachusetts state law requiring all pharmacies to carry commonly prescribed medication, including the morning-after pill. The Board of Registration in Pharmacy ruled in the women’s favor, making it the second state to make the pill available in all pharmacies. Illinois was the first.

Offering the morning-after pill in pharmacies is something that other states, including Iowa, are also considering. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners discussed the issue Jan. 26 and is still considering it.

According to an Ames Wal-Mart pharmacist, the Ames Wal-Mart does not currently carry emergency contraceptives.

Terry Witkowski, executive officer of the Iowa pharmacy board, said there will be a meeting sometim

Witkowski said he did not know what those options were.

ISU students have mixed reactions to whether requiring pharmacies to sell emergency contraception is morally right.

“It’s dangerous to be able to get emergency contraception so easily” said Jenna Reinders, freshman in dietetics.

“It seems like a quick fix to the problem,” Reinders said.

Some students think that emergency contraception shouldn’t be used at all.

“I’ve never had to deal with emergency contraception,” said Briana Webb, freshman in elementary education. “But I’m against it.”

Other students don’t think the enforcement of emergency contraceptive availability would happen in Iowa because of misconceptions.

“Emergency contraception sales should be enforced, but they won’t [be],” said Eric Jones, junior in philosophy.

“People think that if emergency contraception is made available, then kids are having sex.”

Some students are concerned that emergency contraception is a form of abortion.

“Emergency contraception prevents a fertilized egg from being implanted in the womb, essentially causing an abortion,” said Daniel Rajewski, graduate student in geological and atmospheric sciences and president of ISU Students for Life, an anti-abortion campus organization.

Rajewski said the controversy surrounding emergency contraception “is just another case of protecting human life, just at different stages.”

Wal-Mart requires minors to be with a parent, and is requiring a prescription for all purchases.

However, Kathi Di Nicola, director of marketing for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, said the contraception needs to be made more available.

“Women deserve to have emergency contraception stocked. You have to consider [people in] rural Iowa, who may only have Wal-Mart close to them,” she said.