Abortion 101

The topic of abortion is one of the most controversial subjects around. It is a discussion of very different point of views, morals and ethics, and emotions. Abortion should be legalized because the government should not have the right to interfere with a women’s body, illegal abortions may result in fatalities, and most importantly, it is debatable when exactly a fetus is considered a human being. Views on abortion can be distinguished by two categories: pro-life and pro-choice.

Pro-lifers do not believe in abortion. They believe that when there is a fetus or embryo, it has a brain, a heart, and other fully functioning organs, and has the right to live. They think of abortions as a form of murder. Religion also plays a huge role in the stand of pro-lifers. There are many quotes to show this, such as, "Can a woman forget her infant, or be without tenderness for the child in her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." --Isaiah 49:15 and "For You created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." --Psalm 139:13-14. They believe that life begins in the womb and is sanctified by

the Creator, and that man has no right to take a life. Many pro-lifers believe in the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.”

Those who are pro-choice believe in the right to abortions. They believe everyone has the freedom to choose what’s best for them, and that no one or no government should dictate what women can or cannot do to their own bodies. Women should not be forced to have a baby if they do not want it or are not ready for such a responsibility, particularly those who are young. They may not be emotionally capable of handling another life, and may not have the financial means to support the baby. Also, another strong factor that contributes to the pro-choice stance is the belief that victims of rape or incest should not be subjected to a pregnancy they do not want, and if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother. If abortions are banned, there is a high chance that there would be an increase in mortality rates because of illegally performed abortions. Without proper medical care, women who are determined to have an abortion risk their lives in the hands of a non-professional.

Despite what others may believe, I believe in pro-choice; in other words, I believe in a woman’s right to an abortion. Women should have the freedom to choose what is best for their body. It’s their body, their baby, so others should not be making the decisions for them. Abortion should be an option for those faced with health problems can cause harm to the mother or the baby to be born with birth defects. Also, abortions

help control the population rate. Without abortions, there would be hundreds of thousands of unwanted babies who will be unloved and poorly cared for. Having abortions helps us save money and resources. A majority of the women that opt for abortions are still in their teens and can’t even support themselves, so how can they support another human being?

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