Abortion Rights

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Abortion Rights
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Controversial Question
Should abortions be illegal?
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Common Issues of this debate

• The beginning of personhood
• Universal human rights zygote, embryo, or fetus
  vs. womans rights
• Circumstances of conception rape or incest, by
  poor or non-existent birth control, into a
  difficult life situation
• Alternatives to abortion adoption resources
  available to unprepared mothers
• Limit of government authority privacy and/or
  other personal liberty rights

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How Did This Controversy Start?
Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court Case 1973
Jane Roe Henry Wade
Law didnt allow her to have an abortion Claimed her constitutional right to privacy and equal protection under law was violated Argued the opposite Thought having an abortion is like murder
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Roe Vs. Wade contd

• Final ruling January 22, 1973-----Dallas, Texas.
• Abortions permitted for any reason a woman
  chooses until child/fetus becomes viable.
• Viability child/fetus can live outside the
  mothers womb, even if it has to be with an
  artificial aid. This usually occurs after six or
  seven months.
• Fetus unborn baby (8th week of pregnancy to
  birth)
• However, abortion after viability must be
  available when needed to protect a womans
  health. These court rulings affected laws in 46
  states.

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Number of Abortions since 1979
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Why it's an issue
Pro-choice Pro Life
Think abortions should be legal Believe that it should be a womans right to choose whether or not to have an abortion Think abortions should be illegal Believe that abortions are essentially murdering a baby.
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Public Opinion

Date of poll Pro-life Pro-choice Mixed / neither Don't know what terms mean No opinion
2010, March 2628 46 45 4 2 3
2009, November 2022 45 48 2 2 3
2008, September 57 43 51 2 1 3
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If people have an abortion, how far along in
pregnancy are they ?

• Using a 1,500,000
• figure, in 1992
• - 1.2 or 18,000 were 22 weeks or older
• - 10.0 or 150,000 were 13-20 weeks
• - 88.8 or 1,332,000 were 12 and under

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• Spring 2010 Nebraska Bill
• Would make abortion illegal after 20 weeks of
  pregnancy
• Proponents argue the fetus is able to feel pain
  after 20 weeks.
• If the mother has a health issue that may cause
  death, abortion allowed after 20 weeks.
• Direct attack on Roe vs. Wade

Major News Event
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Pro-LifeDont believe in getting abortions

• The unborn child is a living human
• The babys heartbeat can start in 4-5 weeks
• Within 25 weeks of pregnancy, the babys brain is
  actually able to function
• If the child is unwanted, it should be put up for
  adoption
• Abortions are dangerous

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Pro-ChoiceEvery child should be a wanted child

• It would be too much emotionally to carry a baby
  to term under certain circumstances, like rape or
  teen pregnancy
• Making abortions illegal would be dangerous
  women will be forced to go to unsafe back-alley
  abortion clinics
• Might reduce the amount of abused or neglected
  children

Fetus not a human
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The End!