By Leland Pulley
Most abortions taking place today are unnecessary. In order to understand this statement, let us consider some guidelines for this topic.
Young adults should seek marriage. Sexual activity should begin after marriage and not before. Husband and wife should mutually agree on having children. They can make a decision on when the wife should become pregnant. Along with this, they can decide what action will be taken if problems occur during pregnancy. These recommendations are very simple to understand and follow. This is what happened with my wife and I, as well as millions of other married couples.
There are several ways for women to practice birth control. This helps the woman avoid pregnancy until she and her husband want to have a child.
Once a pregnancy begins there are very few reasons to terminate it. Many individuals and some groups will say that there are conditions under which it is justified to terminate a pregnancy. These are rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is threatened due to the pregnancy.
Another consideration is when life is viable. Normally this occurs within a few weeks. It is possible to detect a heartbeat and other activity in a young child while it is still in the mother. This activity supports the concept that life is growing and it is a different life than that of the mother. Such evidence supports carrying the baby for the rest of the pregnancy.
It is true that problems can occur with the pregnancy after a few months. These can cause early delivery. Fortunately, today premature babies are being saved at a younger and younger age.
Notice that in all the statements above abortion should be a family and health issue between parents and doctors. There should be little or no interference by the government and certainly abortion should not become a political issue.
The Supreme Court of the United States in 1973 made a big mistake in their Roe versus Wade decision. They determined that an abortion could occur up to the six-month point in the pregnancy. This time period is now medically out of date, because babies are being saved at a younger time period in the pregnancy. Also, the court had no constitutional authority to make such a decision. Any federal regulation of abortion should come through action by Congress. Historically abortion was a state issue. It should become that way again. The court should overturn their 1973 decision. This would still allow abortions in various states according to the laws of those states.
Since 1973, tens of millions of abortions have occurred. Most of these abortions have occurred for the wrong reasons. The guidelines given above would have prevented most or nearly all of these abortions.
In the United States, abortions are done for every group within society. However, the most targeted group for having abortions is African Americans. This is socially wrong.
The government should not be paying for abortions, nor giving money to organizations that do them. Related to this, is the selling of body parts from aborted babies. This should not be allowed.
In summary, abortion is not merely a pro-life versus pro-choice option. It is not a black and white issue. It is not prohibiting abortion under any circumstance. It is not allowing a woman to have an abortion up to the time when the baby is ready to be delivered. May we as adults use common sense and utilize abortion only when it is justified by both mom and dad, medical evidence, and careful consideration of all the variables involved in each case. This is the way to show respect for life and individual dignity.
Key Words – abortions, marriage, sexual activity, pregnant, birth control, terminate a pregnancy, when life is viable, political issue, Roe versus Wade, African Americans, pro-life versus pro-choice
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