Abortion

Questions:

1. Should abortion be legal?

   1. 1. I don't believe I have the right to force someone to give birth nor to do so through government. I can't think of an appropriate form of punishment for someone who has an abortion. -Bryan

2. If there's a law against abortion, what level of government should it be at?

   1. State since it maximizes freedom - Bryan

3. Prior to birth is there a point at which human life deserves some sort of legal protection?

   1. Yes - Rich, Mel, Lynette, Amy

   2. Not independent of the rights of the pregnant woman - Bryan

   3. When (e.g., fertilization, implantation, viability, 3rd trimester, birth)?

      1. fertilization - Amy

      2. Rich - Not sure...  At fertilization seems the most conservative, so I'm inclined to go with that.

      3. Mel - at fertilization. Meaning, the fetus deserves legal protection once it is formed, once it has the potential to live. 

      4. As soon as the fetus is determined viable - Lynette

   4. What should be the nature of that protection?

      1. State law against facilitating an abortion - Amy, Rich

      2. State law against facilitating an abortion, except for very unusual cases such as rape or incest but it should not be an easy choice, it requires much guidance. - Mel and Lynette

      3. The same protection as the woman, but not independent of her right to make decisions about her own body. - Bryan

   5. What penalties should exist for someone who participates in an abortion (e.g., fines, jail time)?

      1. fine, community service - Rich

      2. Mel - Fine, community service, I feel like the doctor should be punished more than any.

      3. jail time, fine for doctor and patient - Lynette, Amy

      4. None unless it's in violation of the woman's opinion and health - Bryan

4. Should certain people be required to facilitate abortion against their will under threat of criminal penalties (e.g., doctors, companies for employees, insurance companies)?

   1. no - Bryan, Rich, Mel, Lynette, Amy

5. Should a pregnancy through rape be handled differently?

   1. no - Bryan, Amy

   2. Rich - Not sure.  'No' seems like the most conservative answer - so I'm inclined to go with that.

   3. Mel - Yes, the decision should be more thoroughly thought through. If possible, the baby should be put up for adoption. 

   4. Lynette - I'm inclined to say no, but I'll say "possibly," depending on the case. Much prayer would be needed to consider Heavenly Father's plan for that spirit child. 

6. Is there anything in the Constitution that justifies protection for elective abortion?

   1. Yes - Bryan (Bryan1)

Resources

• Abortion: A Property Rights Issue?

• Viability

Notes

1. (Bryan1) The preamble refers to the purpose of the Constitution which is to secure liberty to ourselves and our posterity. A woman's right to make decisions regarding her own body a pretty fundamental liberty. In addition, a foundational principle of the Constitution is that it limits the power of federal government to interfere with an individuals rights except in certain specific enumerated cases. Restricting a woman's right to make decisions related to her health is not enumerated. A related question is whether a fertilized egg has rights or at what stage it has rights under the Constitution. A reasonable person could say yes; however, not independent of the rights of the mother, which is what Roe v. Wade established.

2. (Lynette1) Of course a woman has choice over her body but once another life is in her, that little life has rights too. A woman has the choice to be chaste or not, but once she is pregnant she has to live with that consequence. Allowing an abortion is saying that she doesn’t need to live with the consequence of her choice to be sexually immoral. It makes her les accountable for her actions.