Alright folks, it's the age old debate, taken on by intellectuals, extremists on both sides, moderates, etc. etc. etc...

It's simple, vote yay or nay,
give your reasons, and try to keep it civil

I vote no, because I veiw abortion as legal murder. If you get pregnant, and can't have the child for what ever reason, you can always put it up for adoption.

Even so, I feel that there are some extenuating circumstances that warrant the act of abortion, for example, if the child is concieved through rape, if the birth would create complications that would prove life threatening to the mother, or if the fetus develops severe disabilities that would render the child permanantly crippled, retarded, or otherwise be useles to society, and a financial, and psychological/emotional drain on the childs parents.

These are the exact reason I feel it should be legal. I think instead of an out right ban there should be a limit on how many abortions you can get in a certain amount of time.

You know all and all though, its the woman's body, its her choice. I don't believe my morals need to be pushed on others. There is alot of debate as to when a fetus becomes a person, well I don't believe using condoms is murder, but don't catholics believe that wasting sperm is some sort of sin. Should using condoms be illegal?

Well, what I'm getting at is that there would need to be a solid reason for abortion, not an outright ban, but I don't believe one should be able to walk into the clinic, get a quickie abortion, and that's that. (And yeah, I realise that there's going to be some debate as to what reasons are good enough. ****, I just argued myself into a deeper hole...

Well, I think the best way to reduce abortion is to promote sexual education, and the proper use of birth control, including the morning after pill. People are going to have sex, it's a fact of life, but I just don't think that a life should be destroyed (literally) because somebody didn't use protection

I think your more or less right, but there are some points I'd like to raise.
Once again there is the whole debate of when that fetus should be considered a human being, which what you and me believe based on personal or religious belifs is all fine and dandy, I personally wouldn't want any of my potential offspring aborted, but like I said, I don't think my morals should be the compas law is based upon.

I think waiting periods and abortion amount restictions would be the fairest way to deal with this. You know its easier for some people to use abortion then adoption, while I don't agree with this, I don't think they should be denied an abortion, rather they should be forced to wait a few weeks to think it over seriously.

I definatly agree you shouldn't be able to go through some sort of abortion drive thru, making that descion shouldn't be a quickie thing.

I also agree education, pushing birthcontrol and the morning after pill would definatly help, but there is always those people who get by.

My fiancé is 8 months pregnant. Now the legal age for abortion is 23 weeks along. At 21 weeks we had the ultrasound. We could see the heartbeat, see the legs, arms, fingers etc... no doubt a fully formed baby. And with medical technology now days baby's can survive younger and younger if born prematurely.

http://www.nbc6.net/health/11056409/detail.html

So I ask if you can legally kill a baby at 23 weeks, yet one at 21 weeks can survive, should abortion really be legal? Pro-choicers claim it's not a life until its born. According to this baby born at 21 weeks, apparently it is a life... not to be aborted. How can we justify sucking the brains out of a 23 week old baby, but a 21 week old baby can live a full life?

People should have a way of avoiding unwanted pregnancies .. until birth control is 100%, abortion must be available to everyone .. there's your solid reason for abortion ..

Its disgusting that people are stupid enough to be willing to yield one inch on their reproductive choices due to emotional blackmail served up by those who would reduce people into leashed animals .. slaves were told with who & when they could reproduce .. it disgusts me that you woudl enslave your own people in the name of misguided ideas about unborn children .. no doubt you are pro death penalty & anti-abortion .. talk about well trained animals ..

.. btw this thread already exists .. Abortion .. though it has fallen back a few pages ..

I think its good to start up a new conversation once in a while, it can breed new ideas and topics for newer members.

I agree that it is murder, but all of the reasons that you give for allowing it are exactly correct and they are the very reasons that I think it should be safe, legal, AND THE FINAL CHOICE SHOULD BE THE SOLE PREROGATIVE OF THE WOMAN INVOLVED.

Abortion is necessary to prevent an unwanted child from being born. It's that simple, and that's why it should be allowed.

Women treating men like sperm donors .. is like men treating women like birthing animals .. sexism is retarded ..