Abortion should remain legal in the United States.

first of all, I would like to REMIND my opponent that I do not believe that abortion should remain legal in this country. If I did, then I wouldn't be having this debate with you. Also, you said "In her argument, my opponent pronounced that we ought to do something to prevent dark alley abortions. Allow me to clarify. These are only performed during times when abortion was illegal." According to CNN's "The People Bomb", back alley abortions are performed for two reasons: 1. abortions are illegal & 2. the woman requesting the abortion does not have the funds necessary to undergo a safe and sterile abortion in a clinic. So to say that back alley abortions are ONLY performed when abortions are illegal is a misconception. You said, "Later my opponent states, "the number of clinical abortions performed in the United States was 1,200,000." and, "If abortion was illegal, this number would drop significantly." This argument is unsound in the sense that she simply says illegalizing abortions will cut this hefty number but provides no statistical evidence to support this opinion." You want evidence? Here's your evidence: According to (www.lifenews.com), in a report published by the United Nations concerning the relationship between legalizing abortions and the number of maternal deaths; and I quote: "nations with laws legalizing abortion have not seen a corresponding drop in the rate of maternal deaths...Meanwhile, other reports have shown that the advancement of medical technology, including the invention of penicillin, led to a decrease in the number of illegal abortion deaths -- not legalizing abortion." ---------------------------- According to (www.forerunner.com), in an article concerning illegal abortions and the outcome if abortions were illegal. Again, I quote: "...there were a comparatively small number of illegal abortions pre-Roe, suggesting that the total number of abortions would drop substantially if protective laws were again in effect." ---------------------------- You said, "...I have provided evidence that abortions will still be performed in a gruesome manner even if they are illegal." Where is your evidence? Because here is mine to suggest otherwise: According to (www.tnrtl.org), in an article concerning the common myth that mass-back alley abortions would be performed if abortion was illegal. And I quote: "One of the most common arguments abortion advocates make in defense of legal abortion is that making abortion illegal will cause women to go to the "back alleys" and obtain unsafe abortions. They cite how thousands of women died as a result of unsafe abortions before abortion was legalized through the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision... About 50,000 women of child-bearing age die each year -- from all causes combined. To suggest that 10,000 of these deaths were from illegal abortion would make that the cause of one out of every five deaths, or twenty percent. This would have made illegal abortion the leading cause of death among women in that age group... According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the legalization of abortion was not responsible for reducing abortion-related deaths. This discovery of antibiotics in the 1940's did that by providing effective treatment for infections... Legalizing abortion should have eliminated some deaths related to illegal abortions. That is not the case. In the years from 1963-1969, there were an average of approximately 55 deaths per year due to illegal abortions. In 1970, after this initial wave of laws legalizing abortions, there were 109. Deaths from illegal abortions increased... Effective medical treatments helped reduce abortion related deaths and the legalization of abortion never played a significant role (and never will) in affecting the numbers of women who died from legal or illegal abortion-related deaths....women continue to die from so-called "safe, legal" abortions (perhaps in greater numbers than we know) is a clear indication that abortion is unsafe and hurts women - legal or otherwise." ---------------------------- You said "In supporting abortions for rape victims, my opponent supports the resolution because she wishes for abortions to remain legal in the United States." No sir, I do not believe that abortions should remain legal. Like every rule, their are exceptions. In this case rape & physical condition is the exception; however, abortion is being used as a form of birth control, not as a means of helping the mother because of physical condition or rape. And I have scientific evidence to back that up: According to (www.tnrtl.org) in an article concerning abortions and its reasons. And I quote: "FACT: An Alan Guttmacher Institute survey found that nearly one-half of women obtaining abortions said they used no birth control method during the month they got pregnant. FACT: Add to this the fact that, at most, only five percent of all abortions are done for the mother's physical or psychological health. Rape and incest are cited as reasons for less than 1 % of all abortions. FACT: Nationally, 82 % of women obtaining abortions are unmarried. The statistics strongly suggest abortion is used as birth control." -------------------------- Also, there is scientific evidence that proves that even LEGAL abortions aren't safe. According to (www.tnrtl.org), abortions have very high risks and many complications can arise. Among which include: breast cancer, one source indicated a 140% increase risk following an abortion (British Journal of Cancer), "24.3% experience complications in future pregnancies. Complications include: excessive bleeding, premature delivery, cervical damage, and sterility.", pelvic inflammatory disease, & uterine perforations. Placenta previa - a condition producing extremely severe, life threatening bleeding in future pregnancies. Statistics show a 600% increased risk following abortion, according to the American Journal of Obs. and Gyn. Women who have had a previous abortion run a 200% increased risk of miscarriage (Journal of the American Medical Association), a 160% increased risk of tubal pregnancy (American Journal of Public Health), and an increased risk of abnormal positioning of the baby in future pregnancies after one or more abortion (American Journal of Obs. and Gyn.) ------------------ Not to mention the mental and emotional harm that an abortion brings: According to (www.tnrtl.org): "Dr. Anne Speckhard, in a University of Minnesota study, researched "long-term manifestations of abortion" (5-10 years), and found that 81% of mothers reported preoccupation with their aborted child, 54% had nightmares, 35% had perceived visitations with their child, and 96% felt their abortion had taken a human life. Immediately after an abortion, many women report a feeling of relief ... which is what all abortionists want you to hear. What you won't hear of is the guilt and depression that frequently follows. A national poll found that at least 56% of women experience a sense of guilt over their decision, though the pollster himself acknowledged that many women will not even admit having had an abortion. In fact, a five-year study shows that 25% of women who have had abortions sought out psychiatric care, versus just 3% of women who have not had abortions. Further, numerous studies reveal that women who have had an abortion experience a high incidence of depression, stress, low self-esteem, suicidal feelings and substance abuse." ------------------------------ Abortion does more harm than good, that is not a "personal bias", that is a cold hard FACT. As outlined by the evidence above.