This House Concludes that Abortion is Murder

I don't blame my opponent for trying to narrow the debate and for trying to anticipate my arguments but as Con stated, I have the burden of proof in this debate. For what it is worth, my arguments will not have anything to do with "Partial Birth Abortion. " "Abortion is Murder" - The AllegationThough this debate (bop) is about more than only the allegation that an abortion is a murder, that is where I would like to begin with my arguments. It seems to me that most abortion proponents do not understand how the charge "Abortion is Murder" is usually just that. It's an indictment of the laws which (for now) keep abortions legal. The allegation that is very much along the same line as the saying "Meat is Murder [2]" is. We can all be fairly certain of the fact that the vast majority of the vegans and other Animal Rights activists who claim that "Meat is Murder" are actually aware of the fact that eating meat is not illegal. They probably know that it is not actually a crime of murder - to eat meat. But that doesn't stop them from making allegations against our existing laws - based on how they feel the rights of (non human) Animals are being violated. Does it? My opponent posted a detailed legal definition of the word 'murder' in his Round One Acceptance. Con's provided definition mirrors the definition that I provided myself in my own post on Round One. "Murder occurs when one human being unlawfully kills another human being. [1]"According to the two definitions provided by myself and by my opponent, Con. .. the Animal Rights activists who claim that "Meat is Murder" would have to prove first that the animals they are defending are "human beings" - before their allegation would have any merit at all. Let's compare the animal rights activist's claim that "meat is murder" with the anti-abortion allegation that "Abortions are Murder. " In one case, the "animal" being killed actually IS legally recognized as "a human being[3]" and in the other case, it is not. Although this debate is about much more than just the allegation, I ask Con (and our readers) to consider which claim has more merit? The one where the alleged murder victim actually is a human being? Or the one where the alleged victim is not? I look forward to my opponents comments on this section. "Abortion is Murder" - The Constitutional ArgumentHere on DDO, two years ago, I debated the Constitutionality of the U. S. Laws which allow for abortion on demand [4]. Though the voting period for that debate remains open, I have been awarded the win in that debate for now. In that debate, I went into great detail to show how the current U. S. Laws and Supreme Court's rulings that (for now) keep abortions legal are actually Un-Constitutional. I invite Con to review that debate if he is interested. The bottom line in that debate (as it relates to this one) is that our laws which (for now) keep voluntary / elective abortions "legal" are themselves "un-Constitutional" and since they are un-Constitutional laws, they are themselves "unlawful. " Please read that again, as it gets to the crux of this debate. If the laws which (for now) keep abortions legal are themselves UN-Constitutional. .. then those laws are not lawful. They are UN-LawfulThis is very comparable to the days when Slavery was legal and our laws and even the Supreme Court's rulings UN-CONSTITUTIONALLY [5] held that slavery was legal. We know now in hindsight that not only were the laws which kept slavery legal - were Un-Constitutional. .. we also know that Slavery itself was a crime against those enslaved - even during the time that slavery was legal. Even as it was challenged and even as it was being upheld by the Supreme Court. In short, the point as it relates to this debate is this. .. "All that which is legal is not necessarily Lawful. " I have shown in a previous debate how our laws and courts rulings on abortion - LIKE those that once upheld slavery are themselves 'Un-Constitutional' - because they DENY the children killed by abortions their basic human rights and also the Equal Protections of our laws. According to the Heritage Foundation;"The Constitution itself lays out the best path to change unconstitutional laws: object to the law and change opinions (and political leadership) in the political process, defund and slow its implementation, change or repeal the law, challenge it in the courts, and, if necessary, amend the Constitution. " [6]Where abortion is concerned, part of that process requires making the allegations (explained earlier) - that the laws are un-Constitutional and that as a result of those un-Constitutional laws. .. crimes and or the denial of rights are taking place. Specifically, the allegation - "Abortion is Murder" - is part of that process. "Abortion is Murder" - the Legal BasisPerhaps the strongest support for the allegations that 'Abortions are Murder' are the cases where people have been arrested, tried and convicted for their actions or involvement in 'illegal abortions. ' For my opponent, Con and for all others who hold that abortions are NOT murders. .. I have to ask if you have been made aware of such cases before now? Fore example; "After Feeding Unsuspecting Pregnant Girlfriend 'Abortion Pill Pancake,' Man Faces 1st Degree Murder Charges" By Lizette Borreli| Jul 15, 2014 03:11 PM EDT "A Kansas man admits to crushing the abortion pill and mixing it with pancakes to kill his unsuspecting pregnant girlfriend’s fetus. Nancy Grace A couple’s pancake breakfast for two quickly turned into sour grapes when a Kansas man laced his pregnant girlfriend’s pancake with an abortion pill. Thirty-year-old Scott Bollig faces first-degree murder charges after admitting he crushed an abortion pill and mixed it into pancake batter, when he fed it to 36-year-old Naomi Abbott, who was (only) 8 to 10 weeks pregnant. "[7]I ask Con and our other readers who oppose me in this debate - "How can it be said that "abortion is not murder" when we have people being charged with 1st Degree MURDER - for killing a child in the womb with an illegal one? " Also, as it relates to the legal aspects of this debate - I would like to submit the fact that abortions are already banned and illegal in several other Countries. I understand that this debate is about Abortion and the laws of the United States; However, I feel it is important for the sake of context to at least mention the fact that the allegation "Abortion is Murder" is not without an actual legal basis that stems from already existing laws in many other countries. [8] Hopefully by now, the saying "Abortion is Murder" is not as easily dismissed by my opponent(s) as it was at the beginning of this round. I have tried to bring more to the table than what I have read in previous debates on this subject. I await Con's responses and rebuttals and thanks to all who have taken the time to follow along. [1] Murder Definition - . http://www.law.cornell.edu...[2] Meat is Murder - . https://www.facebook.com...[3] 18 US Code 1841 - . http://www.law.cornell.edu...[4] Constitutionality of Legalized Abortions - . http://www.debate.org...[5] Dred Scott - . http://www.pbs.org...[6] Heritage Foundation - . http://www.heritage.org... [7] Kansas Murder - . http://www.medicaldaily.com...[8] World Map - . http://www.womenonwaves.org...