I tend to think that the idea of using abortion as a form of birth control is pretty disturbing. But there are cases where I can see reasons to abort:
1. rape
2. the child will be born with a terrible dysfunction that will kill it or keep it from living any kind of real life.
3. the woman's health is heavily and long-term endangered by the birth.
I do not like the idea of using abortion as birth control either but making it illegal except for the most stringent circumstances is a bit of a slippery slope.
For one thing -if it is only legal in cases of rape then that makes the aguement against "killing a human being" hypocritical - you still choosing to kill something you deem innocent (you in general, not you specific). You're making some sort of determination that the mother's rights outweigh the fetus. For me personally, I feel no woman should have to bear a child conceived against her will.
With number 2, I see another slippery slope and this one bothers me tremendously. Where do you draw a line in respect to defects? Spina Bifida? Many children with this defect go on to live good and productive and happy lives. Down's syndrom? These are still children capable of joy, life, and love.
With 3 - I agree.
But even when abortions are illegal, infanticide and garage abortions are common.
I think it is more important to focus on the causes of abortion and what can be done to remove social causes than to criminalize abortion...
And at any rate, it should be up to the states.
After all not everyone seems to agree a fetus is a living human being. If we cannot agree on that point, no argument will work for either side.
Exactly...criminalizing it won't stop it. It should be safe, legal, and rare.