Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law, which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
As you see there is indeed no mention of the right to abortion but there it is said “No state shall make or enforce any law, which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States...” and maybe abortion falls under a privilege.
Worldwide Pro-life association’s main and probably the best argument is the same, each fetus is considered a human life and abortion therefore is murder. Well how does one specify when life begins? Not even doctors can positively identify this, so how can we be sure, well pro-lifers think that they have an answer to this and it is that personhood begins right at the moment of conception. “Shortly after conception a unique DNA code is formed, which will remain unchanged through the life of the fetus, and the throughout the potential life of the fetus. They might say that the presence of a unique DNA code converts the egg into a human person.” Pro-choicers reject this idea and say that life may begin later in gestation and as to the DNA argument; a just fertilized egg contains the same DNA information as a hair follicle or a skin scrapping, yet they are not treated as a human person, so they both should be given the same status. Both are very interesting and valid points, but still leave us with the same question, when does life begin? Is it when a heart starts beating, when limbs begin to develop, or is it when the egg is just fertilized? Reva B. Sigler, a professor of law at Yale, talked about abortion in a lecture, there she read from 1880 medical journals that emphasized the separateness between the woman and the fetus. Meaning that a fetus has its own life, which deserves equal right and protection. If this were to be true, then whose rights are more important, that of a woman or an unborn child?
Though it is much criticized abortion does have compelling points, which pro-choicer say are a benefit to all society. Women with illnesses like heart disease, sickle-cell anemia, sever diabetes, etc. whose complications can worsen if they give birth no longer have to because of abortion. In these days we see people becoming parents at very young ages, now should teenagers have to suffer poor jobs, and education because of one mistake, or an action that was done on the spur of a moment? Well abortion has made it possible for many of these teens to live life as normal as possible. Abortion can also lower the number of abandoned, and mistreated children. These unwanted children are seriously disadvantaged and can grow up to treat others with violence and hate, but abortion can solve that problem.
Some skeptics about the legalization of abortion say that there are many ulterior motives behind this, now I’m not agreeing with them, I just thought that maybe take a moment to explore their theories. One of the theories is that abortion was purposely legalized for population control. Population has become an increasing problem and there is really no other way to control it other than to limit reproduction. Another increasing problem is the threat of global warming, which we also think can be solved by limiting the number of people that are on the world. Even one of our more respected politicians, Vie President Al Gore, has said that “over population fosters global warming” and went on to suggest expanding birth control and abortion programs in developing countries to help reduce the environmental threat. Whether these ulterior are just pure skepticism or not, they are sure something to think about.
Though abortion is in fact legal (though each state has the power to choose whether it be legal or not), it does have restrictions and limits. Medical societies enforce regulations prohibiting abortions after 21 weeks of pregnancy. This is unless a medical problem has been discovered after the 21 weeks and abortion is necessary. “Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey” a case of 1992 founded the grounds that a parent or guardian be notified before an abortion on a minor. Though in “ Belotti v. Baird” the court ruled that if a state requires that minors have to have parental consent, they must provide an alternative procedure to obtain authorization if the parents deny the consent or if the minor does not want to ask. Other state laws require counseling and/or cooling off period before an abortion is performed. They also decided to end financial support for poor women who seek abortions. These laws are passed in hopes to cut back the number of abortions.
Maybe abortion does have its strong points, but every issue has positive and negative effect, but it is our job to figure if the negative effects are worth risking so that we can have a good outcome. Though all the points made by the opposing sides are equally matched, we are still left with the question, should abortion be legalized? Maybe it’s a personal choice that we make our won with the help of our own moral beliefs, something that the lay should not meddle in.