SHOULD ABORTION BE LEGAL?

The debate over whether or not abortion should be a
legal option continues to divide Americans long after the
US Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision on Roe v. Wade [49]
declared the procedure a "fundamental right" on Jan. 22,
1973.
Proponents, identifying themselves as pro-choice,
contend that choosing abortion is a right that should
not be limited by governmental or religious authority,
and which outweighs any right claimed for an embryo or
fetus. They say that pregnant women will resort to
unsafe illegal abortions if there is no legal option.
Opponents, identifying themselves as pro-life, contend
that personhood begins at conception, and therefore
abortion is the immoral killing of an innocent human
being. They say abortion inflicts suffering on the unborn
child, and that it is unfair to allow abortion when
couples who cannot biologically conceive are waiting to
adopt.
Variations exist in arguments on both sides of the
debate. Some pro-choice proponents believe abortion
should only be used as a last resort, while others
advocate unrestricted access to abortion services under
any circumstance. Pro-life positions range from
opposing abortion under any circumstance to accepting
it for situations of rape, incest, or when a woman's life
is at risk.