Should a 15-year-old be able to stroll into a pharmacy, plop down some money and walk away with the ability to stop an unwanted pregnancy from occurring?

The FDA thinks so. The agency lowered age limits Tuesday on an over-the-counter drug that’s often dubbed the “morning-after pill.”

A federal judge from New York contends all age limits should be removed, making it perfectly OK for an 11- or 12-year-old to purchase the pill.

Essentially, the drug prevents fertilization of an egg. Critics say the drug’s effects are equivalent to an abortion. Some scientists dispute that comparison.

Regardless, the ruling is disturbing. How many parents really want their young girl to have unfettered access to the morning-after pill?

In some ways, it’s a symptom of our society. We allow pharmaceutical companies to regularly advertise and promote drugs to the point where many Americans, we think, “There’s got to be a pill,” for whatever ails us at the moment.

Eat too much and get overweight? No problem, take this pill.

Tired all the time from a lack of sleep? Try one of these?

Have unprotected sex and regret it the next morning? No worries; mom and dad don’t need to know a thing, just take one of these.

What has our country come to when we allow children to eliminate potential pregnancies on their own, all in the name of their personal liberty?

Making the morning-after pill more accessible to young girls sends the wrong message and encourages less parent-to-child conversations about sex, when more is really needed.