Furnell, 1

Erica Furnell
Professor Nathan Cole
English 1010-027
12 December 2016
IEP Final Draft

Abortion: Legal or illegal?

Abortion has been one of the most heatedly debated topics in the U.S. for more than a
century. In the United States, the history of abortion goes back much farther than the 1973
Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which made abortion legal, and marked an important turning
point in public health policy. In the mid 1800s states started making abortion illegal. The
motivations for anti-abortion have varied from state to state, as they still do today. When
abortion is illegal many women feel the need to go to back alley abortions, which are highly
risky. In the years before the Roe vs. Wade case, the estimates of illegal abortions ranged as high
as 1.2 million per year, Many women were harmed as a cause of illegal abortions. After Roe vs.
Wade, many of the supporters of abortion rejoiced, and felt their battle had been won, although
others faulted the court for their decision. Those who were opposed to legal abortion
immediately started working to prevent any federal or state funding for abortion, and to
undermine or limit the effect of the decision. Some tactics included harassing people trying to
enter abortion clinics, vandalizing clinic property, and blocking access to clinics. The level of
anti-abortion violence continued to escalate, and abortion providers were in danger.

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Later on, in the Supreme Courts ruling in Planned parenthood vs. Casey in 1992
established that states can restrict pre-viability abortions. Restrictions can be placed on first
trimester abortions, in ways that are not medically necessary as long as the restrictions do not
place a burden on women seeking an abortion. Many states now have restrictions in place.
Abortion is different in every state. Some states want to make abortion completely illegal, some
want to make it completely legal, and others want it to be legal only for medical reasons,
meaning if the womens health is in danger, or if the fetus is likely damaged.
In the fourteenth amendment it states, 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. Having the fourteenth in place
would mean that no state can take away a womans right to have an abortion, and terminate the
child inside of her. Historically, women around the world have tried to end their unintended
pregnancies whether abortion is legal or not, often jeopardizing their safety and health be
self-inducing or seeking a dangerous illegal procedures. 50% of Americans call themselves
pro-choice. Pro-choice means advocating legalized abortion. Access to safe and legal abortion is
an important aspect of womens health care. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures
performed in the U.S. The risk associated with childbirth is approximately fourteen times higher
than abortion. Louis Melling, JD stated, Abortion and reproductive freedom more broadly
defined are important pieces of ensuring this common dream. To obtain a better future, we each

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must be free to make profoundly personal decisions about our reproductive lives without
unwarranted government intrusion.
Although there are many people who are pro-choice, there are many people who are
pro-life. Many people have the view that abortion is murder. They say that the killing of an
innocent human being is wrong, even if that human being has yet to be born. Unborn babies are
considered human beings by the United States government. The federal Unborn Victims of
Violence Act, which was enacted to protect unborn children from assault and murder, states
that under federal law, anybody intentionally killing an unborn child should be punished. Other
views are; life begins at conception, so unborn babies are human beings with a right to life,
fetuses feel pain during the abortion procedure, and abortions reduce the number of adoptable
babies. All of these are possible during an abortion. Many of the americans truly believe that the
fetus, even though it may be only two weeks old, can feel pain. Some cases that a mother would
want an abortion is because the unborn baby could be born with a disability. Although those with
disabilities do not make them any less human, than those without disabilities. The National
Down Syndrome Society states 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. The increase in abortions of babies with down syndrome (over
80% of women choose to abort down syndrome babies) this reduced the down syndrome
population by 15% between 1989 and 2005.

Although many people do not want abortion to be legal, some want abortions to be illegal
to a fact where they cannot kill the baby if it is healthy, as well as the mother being healthy. If
the
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baby, or the mother were not to be healthy then they want in a sense legal. This would mean that
the state which chooses to make it legal in the sense of keeping a life safe, they would have to
put restrictions on the law. Many women who want to have an abortion were raped, and are
looking for a way to get out of pregnancy so they dont have the reminder of being raped.
Having a medical view on abortion is a very eye opening. Dr. X as she calls herself states, ... I
met a diabetic woman with end-stage kidney disease who wanted to end a pregnancy that had
begun when birth control failed. She thanked me for helping her stay alive, instead of running the
risk of dying during pregnancy. In that case the woman would have passed, and her baby could
have lived, but because the mother had other children that she would need to care for she chose
abortion, that way someone would be there to care for the children who already had lives. Many
people may not agree with legalizing abortion for the purpose of medical issues with the mother,
or baby, but some americans do believe that the legalization of abortions should have the
restrictions, that you can only end the unborn childs life if going through the pregnancy is a
direct harm to the mother or fetus.
In conclusion, having abortion legalized, or have it be illegal, could have many people
with oppositions, and could cause problems. Having abortion legal in the sense that it is only for
medical purposes can have many outcomes, and some opposition, but for those mothers who
could die in result of keeping a baby could be saved, and keep living their lives, as well as

working, and keeping families together. As well as the mothers whose fetus could have a defect,
or may not live to birth could have a way out of going through the pregnancy process, and
maintain their health and keep themselves healthy if the baby isnt going to make it anyways.
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Although legalizing abortion fully, and not just in a medical sense could be good for society, so
that mothers who are looking to terminate the life of the fetus in them can do the abortion
legally, without doing a back alley abortion. That could keep those mothers safe and healthy.
Making abortion illegal may mean that the amount of children to be adopted may grow. That
would mean those families who are not able to have children on their own will be able to have
the opportunity to adopt, and have a child that they can call their own, and build their own family
up. Making the abortions legal could take away that opportunity away for those who are
searching for a way to make a family, and have children to love as their own. I am against
abortion. My family has a history of adoption, and if those parents of my cousins had chosen to
get an abortion I would not have my cousins that I have today. Abortion, although it could save a
mothers life, will end a life that hasnt been able to experience anything. If a women decides to
make a choice, then she must face that choice, and let that baby live so that the little child inside
of her can learn to live, and have a life that could mean a great deal to someone else. In our
society today many people have huge arguments about abortion. If the public were to be aware
of the pros, and the cons of abortion, then those people would be able to make a decision.

Works Cited:
Abortion in the United States by State
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_the_United_States_by_state
A doctor tells why she performed Abortions-and still would
content.healthaffairs.org/content/29/6/1264.full
Constitution of United States of America 1789 (revised in 1992)
Should Abortion be legal. NARAL pro-choice America
abortion.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001447
The impact of illegal abortion- Our bodies Ourselves
www.ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/impact-of-illegal-abortion/
Tietze C, Henshaw SK. Induced Abortion: A World Review, 1986. New York: The Guttmacher
Institute, 1986
https://prochoice.org/education-and-advocacy/about-abortion/history-of-abortion/