Why support abortion for rape victims?

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It is not a strawman, at least to me, it is a recognition of the limits of a particular argument that not every pro-choice adherent will be will to deal with. In my mind it is the logical opposite of the rape and incest examples that, almost without fail, are thrown at pro-life people when the issue is being discussed. In both cases, a minority of events are being discussed, if this thread is to be engaged, then it follows that the opposite is at least interesting for us to unpack.



Well the logically important factor is that the person who is dealing with the decision, almost always has a chance to avoid the event happening beforehand. Pro-choice chaps do themselves absolutely no good when they fail to acknowledge the reality that woman are generally pregnant because they chose to have sex. Technology does not guarantee them the opportunity to avoid that state and as responsible persons society has the right to ask people to live with the consequences of their decisions. Technology does however allow women and men to elect to evade their responsibility in those matters. To then claim a mandate for a inherent right is, to my mind, quite a stretch.



I would agree, which is why a woman's right to chose does not extend to her owning an independent human life that she helped to create. In no other facet of life do we grant ownership of an independent human life to another. Rather, a family is a social contract of interlinking responsibilities and privileges, none of which relate to the ownership of a member of it. We moved past that point with regards to woman and we will eventually reach the same conclusion with children. Eventually it will become possible for the child to be viable at almost any point, then, I the technological changes will cast a very nasty shadow on the contemporary status-quo.

The decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy rests with the woman involved and no one else.

That will never change.

If you felt your neighbour was a threat you could move house. A pregnant woman cannot abandon her own body, it is completely different.



Stabbing real people who have real lives and real loved ones is not the same as abortion. The foetus has potential, but is not wanted and no-one is offering it a place in the world, it is cruel to bring an unwanted child into the world, they will suffer, and for what purpose?

I'm sorry you can't, and women who abort must seem ungrateful for that gift, but each person's situation is different. I always have thought I personally wouldn't abort, that is my choice, but I strongly believe it should be a free choice for everyone.

My doctor told me that a pregnancy is "the perfect parasite", never worry that it won't get nutrition (I was very sick every time I ate), it is the mother who will suffer malnutrition while the baby takes calcium from her bones and teeth, iron from her blood and liver, and the list went on. It reassured me, but only because I cared more for the baby than for myself. I also suffered permanent damage from the actual birth, during which we both could have died, and chronic back pain with occasional paralysis in my right leg from the pregnancy.

To have those injuries imposed against your will, on top of the mental cruelty of being treated as nothing more important than a vessel to bring an unwanted child to birth, would be completely wrong. Abortion is not perfect as a solution, but I don't see a better one.

Why should I be the one to move? OK, I don't hold any animosity towards him, but suppose I did. He's out there, sitting on his front steps, smoking a cigarette, strapped with a 9mm, and he's breathing MY freakin' oxygen. They ALL breathin' my oxygen. Kill 'em.


Stabbing real people who have real lives and real loved ones is not the same as stabbing k!k3s and n!gg3rs. K!k3s and n!gg3rs have potential, but are not wanted and no-one is offering them a place in the world, it is cruel to allow k!k3s and n!gg3rs to live in the world, they will suffer, and for what purpose?

Words fail me.

That being said, here's my two cents on the matter:
Yes, if a woman has sex, pregnancy is a possible outcome. No, that does not make it a requirement for said woman to have the baby as some sort of punishment. If a smoker develops lung cancer, should we deny medical treatment because they were the ones who decided to smoke?

Abstinence only is the most effective, but one of the least practical, methods of birth control. What if a couple is married, but both have been laid off? Should they be required to bring that child into the world? Yes, they could give it up for adoption, but just carrying the child involves quite a bit of expensive medical care. Who will pay for that, other than a few wealthier childless couples (if you are lucky) or an under-funded charity organization (if you are lucky). And carrying every fetus to term would further burden the already overburdened foster care system. Over 100,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system waiting for permanent families right now. In 2010, 254,114 children aged out of foster care and 21% were adopted. While infants with no special needs are usually adopted, the longer it takes for an adoption, the more likely it is that they will spend their entire life in a series of foster homes.

I don't really care about your stance on the moral or ethical considerations on the subject. I consider this issue mostly from a practical standpoint. It is impractical to dump a huge load of human beings into society with nowhere for them to go and no means to take care of them.

Beautifully said. Thank you.

I notice a trend in these threads: many of the people argueing against abortion seem to believe a woman should never have sex unless they want a child, because there is a tiny risk of getting pregnant. With the age of first child rising, do people really expect women to live like nuns until they are 30? This is completely unrealistic.

Ode to Genghis Kahn:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4tLCGcTG4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME3gfLLQcWQ[/youtube]

Everyone who thinks a woman should bare some rape-baby, should go out and buy every woman you know a Gun and a Rape-Axe to defend all the women....or shut up, because if your not offering a solution to stop it, your saying nothing.

No one has the responsibility to take 9 months out of their plans, because of some mans decision to assault her. All the pro-lifers, are any of you volunteering at women's self-defense centers, teaching women's firearms classes...or doing anything to stop rape? Any one not stopping rape has no valid right to give opinions limiting abortion. It's empty hypocrisy.

Adoption is not an option, as few have time to take almost a year off from whatever they are doing. The adoption argument, is not convincing anyone...prevention is what we need. Abortion when all else fails.

My wife carries a 357. magnum, Police grade pepper-spray and a stun-gun. Currently her new AR15 is her truck rifle, and she's taken close combat courses and knows her weapons. I'm pretty confident in my wife's ability to defend herself, but not all women can or know how to defend themselves, others live/work in dangerous places and others will be attacked by those they trust. A woman on a date won't be armed, and should not have to pay a 9 month sentence for another persons crime.

Without Abortion, women will need to wear these constantly...It's a Rape-Axe.

You have no right to place that kind of judgement on other people. We also have no right to murder rapists or order them to be executed on spot. And don't be a smart arse just cause you have a wife and guns and protect her like a velociraptor, a lot of us are not that lucky. this is the first time I've gotten frustrated at a fellow gun lover like this. You sir, need to think more.

No I'm right you give no arguments why I'm wrong just emotions.

Unless you are doing everything to prevent rape, you have no right to limit Abortions of those who are raped.

You are wrong to assume that about everyone, you refuse to consider another's point, and you've only restated your previous points over and over as if I am stupid. Seems we are both playing the no you are no you are game if you are even correct at all.
My point, my argument, was the fact that you were being an arse. I was not even talking about the stupid abortion crap, it was the fact you act as if people who dissagree with you should nto be listened to. I've listened to your infuriating child like style of chewbacca defense, please don't be so selective next time, and you wont look so bad.

Well you are being stupid, obviously. Look at how you immediately become insulting. You never addressed a point, sorry you really looked like an idiot. At least I gave reasons, if we are both playing that game...I'm winning.



Boohoo another whiner calling me an ass... when he can't argue a point. Learn what a chewbacca defense is, and give a point or shut up. I'm more than willing to hear any point you have? I've heard you give no solutions, I'm not bullying you I'm dismissing you as a child to come up with any solutions. Prove me wrong boy...tell my evil soul what the right solution is.

Well? What's your point lad, do you expect every woman raped to have an abortion? Because that's what the debate is son. If your having another conversation I can't help you, maybe a shrink could though lol.

(I'm being good) Do you expect them (The victim) to carry any financial burden? Do you accept abortion for medical reasons?

Should they miss school, career goals?...should a female lawyer take off her case? What's your solution? I'm not shutting you down I'm asking questions.

Should a woman cancel vacations, what more does she need to do tell us all please. ?? I'm all ears.

Please explain to me how this can be done in real life, All I see is abortion as a solution, you see another? Tell me how that would work. Try acting a bit more civilly son, no one likes a brat. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for you to fix the world.

What % of aborted pregnancies are from rape? I can't imagine it's that high, the same with incest. How common is it that carrying a pregnancy to term poses a serious health risk to the mother? There are a lot of red herrings in the abortion debate, very few try to defend on demand nature of it and just highlight the horror stories instead.

I believe abortion should only be tolerated in extraordinary circumstances, rape being one of those. The way I rationalize it is because aggression has been taken against the mother and since the mother didn't consent, she can't be expected to take responsibility. Think of it as the distinction between self defense and murder. This makes pragmatic sense since it still opposes the vast vast majority of abortions and takes away the most powerful argument pro-abortion have.

The percentage is not alot, but that's the issue. We are talking about it in context with rape. Your point is reasonable, and I agree with it. I made the self defense point myself. Great point!! !! !!

I'm not arguing Abortion is always good, I believe it is a mortal sin...personally but regardless of my opinion I support others rights. I don't base my politics on my morality, or my religion. I base it on my self-interests and personal freedoms.