Resolved: Abortion should be made illegal in the US.

To be clear, my opponent specifically states the following: "Remember, this isn't about whether abortion is right or wrong (there are more than enough of those already) - this is about whether it should be legal or not." With this mandate in mind, I begin my refutation. I've taken pieces of or summaries of each of my opponents points (contained in quotes), and responded to them in order of appearance (comments following >>). 1) "People will do it anyway" >>People break laws all the time. This doesn't mean those laws shouldn't exist. This is akin to saying "People will commit murders, regardless of legality, so why make murders illegal?" Laws exist in order to provide rules/guidelines, maintain society, and protect society's members. 2) "Government gets to control a woman's body. " >>Governments all over the world control their respective citizens' bodies. This includes the US, which considers attempted suicide illegal. China has a limit on the number of children families can produce. The US also prevents people from purchasing harmful drugs for personal use. These are just a few examples of 'body control'. Precedent has been set already. 3) '"Back alley" abortions and other harmful actions (starvation, etc)' >>Once again, what does this have to do with whether abortion should be illegal? People purchase harmful drugs through the black market, because distribution and purchase are illegal. This doesn't mean sale of heroine should be legalized. If an action is considered to be harmful to members of society, or if it threatens the stability of society, then it makes sense for government to ban that action. 4) 'It's arguably better for society to have babies aborted than have them be brought up poor and neglected' >>My opponent specifically stated that we were not to argue whether abortion was 'right' or 'wrong'. Then he made the above statement, which is an argument supporting abortion. I will still debate it, but that should be on the record. >>It may be better for babies to be aborted rather than to experience a poor childhood. It may also be better for babies to be aborted rather than to experience an abusive childhood, or a developmentally challenged childhood, or an overly wealthy childhood. This doesn't mean that every child born outside of 'normal' circumstances should be aborted. The government has the responsibility to attempt to ensure that society's members live safe and stable lives. So perhaps the government is failing to do that by allowing children to grow up neglected. This doesn't change the fact that abortion should be illegal if it is in fact 'wrong'. 5) 'Without legalized abortion, a lot more women will become parents whether or not they want to be and whether or not they're ready to be.' >>The government should be responsible for attempting to ensure that these children and their mothers lead relatively stable and safe lives. If the government fails in that aspect, then it should take measures to improve, but this doesn't change the fact that abortion should be illegal if it is wrong. In addition that Lincoln/Hussein argument is a ridiculous point. My opponent has no proof that any of these people's mothers WANTED an abortion. In addition, this is ANOTHER argument attempting to prove why abortion is right. This, once again conflicts with his original statement, that we are not arguing whether abortion is right or wrong. 6) The 'ruined life' and 'emotional bond' arguments all attempt to prove that abortion is RIGHT. Once again, conflicts with my opponent's original mandate. 7) 'Abortion is not murder' >> Ok, well at least this one argues why abortion may not be 'not wrong'. It doesn't really matter what my opponent assumes with regards to whether abortion is murder. Abortion, unless it is for the benefit of a woman's body (She will die if the procedure is not performed), could be construed as a damaging of that woman's body. If so, then precedent has been set. Attempting suicide and purchasing illegal drugs are both considered illegal. If damaging one's own body due to personal preferences has a negative impact on society, then that action should be considered illegal. If abortion IS indeed murder (a matter of opinion/interpretation), then it should DEFINITELY be illegal.