I have a question I would like to ask those who claim that they are personally opposed to abortion, but do not think it should be made illegal: “Let us suppose that the Supreme Court had not declared abortion to be a constitutional right, and let us suppose that a proposition was put on your state’s election ballot to legalize abortion in your state, and you have the opportunity to vote on it. Would you vote in favor, or in opposition to it?”
The answer to this question is more telling than the simple affirmation that one thinks abortion should be legal even though they are personally opposed to it, because this question helps reveal why someone holds the position they do. If someone says they would vote in opposition to such a proposition, it reveals that their real concern is not so much that they believe a woman should have the right to abort her unborn child, but rather that they should be able to keep the right once it has been granted to them. Many people are uncomfortable taking away rights that have already been granted, but would vote against granting such rights in the first place. If someone says they would vote in favor of such a law, it reveals that they either have a very idealistic view of liberty (that people’s liberty should be nearly autonomous, even when their liberty involves taking the life of an innocent and defenseless human being), they are relativistic when it comes to moral judgments, or they aren’t truly persuaded of the pro-life position and pro-life logic.
Thinking to Believe 
November 18, 2009 at 9:02 am
Personally, I’d vote to make it illegal. However, my dad wouldn’t even though he disagrees with it as he reckons that people would still have an abortion whether it is legal or not and that illegal abortions are not as effective or humane…
Suffice to say, we disagree on this point! 🙂
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November 18, 2009 at 10:52 am
I’m with you on this one. That kind of logic is, well, not very logical. Given that reasoning, we should not outlaw rape. After all, men are going to rape women whether it is illegal or not! The purpose of the law is not to stop everybody from doing X, but rather to (1) send a message to society that X is not socially acceptable, and (2) to give the government grounds on which to punish this behavior.
As for making abortion legal so that it’s more humane and effective, this line of reasoning is ridiculous (though many offer it). If abortion takes the life of an innocent human being, why would we be interested in ensuring that it is done more effectively and humanely? Should we make murder legal so as to ensure that murderers kill their victims more effectively and humanely? Some might object, “But that’s different!” This begs the question, however. For if pro-lifers are right, the unborn are just as human and just as valuable as the born. So in the same way that we would not legalize the murdering of those who are born in the name of effectiveness or safety, neither should we do so in the case of the unborn. We should protect all human beings from being killed unjustly, regardless of their location, size, level of development, or level of dependency on other human beings. To say otherwise is fetal discrimination. That’s what abortion is: killing the weak because they are in our way, and cannot defend themselves (though abortion doctors will tell you that 2nd trimester babies do try their best to defend themselves against the instruments of death).
Jason
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