The Abortion Debate

I chose the topic of abortion for my paper. Abortion is the legal, surgical procedure of ending a pregnancy. I chose this topic because though it is a heated, controversial, and commonly emotional topic, I think it is an important topic to discuss. I pride myself on being an open-minded, and adaptable person. So, though I am able to understand and empathize with arguments for both sides of the issue, I personally, am anti- abortion (based on the exclusion of pregnancies involving rape, incest, or when a mother’s life is in danger). This is mostly because I feel there are so many ways to prevent a pregnancy. In my opinion abortion is not only un-necessary but also an irresponsible route. Throughout this paper I will discuss both sides of

One argument in favor of abortion is that it allows the pregnant woman to decide whether or not to bring a baby who will have abnormalities to full term. Deborah Anne Driscoll, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania, stated, "many couples... don’t have the resources, don’t have the emotional stamina, don’t have the family support [to raise a child with Down syndrome]." On the other hand, pro-life advocated think “selective abortions” founded entirely on genetic anomalies is blatant discrimination. The National Down Syndrome Society declares that, "people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways." Additionally, supporters of abortion believe unwanted children should not be brought into this world, whereas, people against abortion feel if a woman is to become pregnant she should accept the responsibility that ensues when creating a child. Moreover, another argument in favor of abortion is that abortion reduces crime. Steven D. Levitt, PhD, has alleged, "legalized abortion has contributed significantly to recent crime reductions," due to the fact that "women who have abortions are those most at risk to give birth to children who would engage in criminal activity." Pro-life supporters oppose this idea with the belief that allowing abortion endorses a culture in which life is disposable, which leads to a lack of respect for human life. House Representative Randy Hultgren wrote that, "When we tell one another that abortion is okay, we reinforce the idea that human lives are disposable, that we can throw away anything or anyone that inconveniences us" (ProCon,