Abortion Should be Illegal in the U.S.

Thank you for accepting, I will be arguing that abortion should be illegal in the U.S. because: 1) A fetus is a human. A fetus is an organism containing human DNA consisting of 46 chromosomes. In addition, it is not a parasite or just a blob of cells. Just because it doesn’t look like a human doesn’t make it not a human. For example, a tadpole doesn’t look anything like a frog but it is still the first stage of the life cycle of a frog. Likewise, an embryo is the first stage of the life cycle of a human. Even if the fetus is nurturing in a mother’s womb, a fetus is not a parasite. The fetus didn’t invade the womb from the outside; it was already there from the moment of conception. Finally, it may be argued that a fetus is just a blob of cells, but isn’t all organisms just a blob of cells? Using words or phrases such as “parasites,” “not a human,” and “a blob of cells” is derogatory and dehumanizing. A fetus is undeniably human. [1] 2) Abortion is murder. Murder is the deliberate and unlawful killing of another human being. A fetus is a human being since it is at the beginning of the development stage of the species, Homo sapiens. In addition, the mother and doctor deliberately kill a fetus during an abortion. Abortion consists of pills or surgeries. These practices not only are dangerous but also are very gruesome methods of death. Some examples of surgical abortion are Dilation and Curettage (D&C), a procedure where the cut up fetus and placenta is vacuumed into a jar, Dilation and Evacuation (D&E), a procedure where the fetus is ripped apart and crushed to be taken out of the uterus, and Dilation and Extraction (D&X), a procedure where the fetus is taken out feet first with the skull pierced by a scissor so the brain can be vacuumed. Clearly, these procedures are a gruesome and deliberate killing of a human being. [2] 3) A fetus has civil rights and liberties. Allowing women to abort a baby who may be physically or mentally handicapped is wrong and is discriminatory. It is often argued that a physically or mentally handicapped fetus can be aborted in fear of being a burden to the society and family. People should not regard life as something that can be disposed of because it fails to perform a standard. If killing a physically or mentally handicapped fetus is legal, shouldn’t the killing of the disabled and elderly who cannot meet human standards be legal? Most people would likely say no, but why can’t this concept be applied to aborted fetuses? In addition, a fetus’ right to life should not be taken away. Science clearly states that a during fertilization, a new human being is created and is alive. Even if people argue for the life of a sperm or an ovum, both are products of a human body each containing 23 chromosomes. We cannot take this unique life of a fetus away. [3] 4) Abortion is not a woman’s choice and the society has a right to stop it. Pro-choice is pro-abortion. Don’t confuse pro-choice as not being the same as pro-abortion because the only optional choice is abortion. In addition, abortion is not just the business of a woman and her doctor because it is morally wrong and a crime. Just because a woman has the burden of a fetus and must go through labor doesn’t give her the right to kill. For example, say a woman with a mental illness decides to kill her 3 children. Should she deserve punishment? If not, why? It is her choice, her business, and the society should remain silent since the metal illness never affected them. Yet she’ll still be subject to charges for child abuse because murdering one’s children is morally wrong and a crime. The same concept applies to abortion. Just because it is a choice, the society must take it into their hands to deem it as morally right or wrong. 5) Abortion takes time, money, and effort. Only 665 abortion clinics exist in the U.S. and take a while to access compared to 13,500 health clinics that don’t do abortion. In addition, abortion costs at least $300 along with other charges for examination and fuel cost. Above all, it creates a lot of stress for women to keep their abortion a secret from parents, to get an abortion due to peer pressure, and to live on with the fact that they killed their own child. It is said that abortion is fast, easy, and not painful. However, this is false. Abortion pills are by far the most dangerous procedures. Since it is a drug taken by the woman without help from the doctor and lasts for hours, it is more likely to fail or cause serious infections. Also, abortion doctors are more likely to recommend surgical abortion, which involves procedures such as taking apart fetus limbs and crushing the skull and brain. Because of abortion, women suffer physical, emotional, or mental health consequences from the abortion procedure. It’s proven that do women suffer from some type of negative feeling after abortion. [4] 6) Allowing abortion due to pregnancy from rape or incest is wrong. The rape and incest argument is often used, but only a small percentage of abortions are due to this reason. First of all, if there is a rape or incest, pregnancy can still be prevented. Even if a human is conceived from rape or incest, abortion should not end its life regardless because the fetus is a human and is innocent. Allowing abortion for incest and rape creates the myth that abortion is healing the victim. This is completely untrue and can only worsen the effect of rape or incest. Even though the child may remind the mother of the terrible experience, a mother requires support from children and family. The mother and child bond is especially needed during the distress of a victim of rape or incest. Above all, people should not tell women to turn towards abortion after a rape or incest but towards support from family and friends. [5] 7) A fetus that is dependent on the mother doesn’t mean that it can be killed. A fetus may be dependent on the mother and cause serious financial hardships and stress. However, if the killing of a dependent child is permitted, infants, toddlers, and handicaps can be killed as well. After all, infants and toddlers require more time to look after and more help with eating, changing diapers, and moving around, and handicaps require more assistance from machines or people for extra support. Nevertheless, the role of a parent in the society is to take care of the child. Additionally, some may argue that the fetus exists and is part of a woman’s body. The fetus is a completely different body compared to the mother. The fetus has its own set of chromosomes, its own blood, and its own body parts and mind. As it develops, it can move and kick. This is all proof that the fetus is its own body but is only temporarily supported. It is a duty of a woman to take care of the child. It is also the duty of the society to support the mother and the child. Above all, the dependency of a human doesn’t qualify as a legitimate reason to kill him/her. [6] 8) Making abortion is illegal doesn’t make it stop is a bad argument. Just because abortion will still be happening when it is illegal doesn’t mean it should be legalized. For example, there about 45 murders per day in the U.S. Since murders cannot be stopped, should it be legalized? Another example is child abuse and neglect. Because there are thousands of child abuse and neglect that cannot be managed, should child abuse and neglect should be legalized? The logic behind legalizing something that is morally wrong may be strong a strong argument but it clearly falls apart. Society is in a position to make sure that morally wrong crimes are not committed by establishing rules and laws. By establishing rules and laws, it guides and educates people to stop committing crimes. [7] In conclusion, Roe v. Wade should be overruled because 9 justices shouldn’t have the power to make abortion legal. Abortion is based on personal interests and is pressured upon women. Abortion dehumanizes and destroys morality. End abortion and save lives.