Abortion and Handguns

[Elven Archer]

yes there is. there was some study done or something that said like only 4% of women raped get pregnant. it has to do with what's going on in your body at the time that makes you less likely to get pregnant or something like that.

[Arien the Maia]

I am against all forms of abortion unless it is to save the mother's life. I believe that a human is alive from the moment of conception.

[Baby-K]

I am totally against people carrying handguns (had a few bad personal experiences with the things). Any form of weaponry should be limited to exclusive ownership & use by military bodies.

As for abortion - I am totally pro - choice, however I do believe that the choices people make should be well - informed, especially regarding abortion. It is something that affects women greatly as it has placed quite a burden on us - almost giving us the power of gods (having to choose between life & death) - this is a burden that in most cases will definitely become too hard to bear.

I do not agree that women who have been raped can carry a resulting pregnancy to full term without suffering some sort of psychological break down and to then either give the child up for adoption or raise it yourself would only add to the pain. Rape is not something that happens to you & you then just forget about it, the memories of the event stay with the victims for a very long time (if not forever). Raising a child in such circumstance could be a constant reminder of the hurt, anger & humiliation suffered during the ordeal. This is obviously not the best environment to raise a child as it could lead to unfair psychological damage to the child as well.

What I do oppose regarding abortion is the fact that it has become an easy solution / alternative to birth control (or the lack thereof). It is too readily available to teenagers who are 'just not ready' to be parents. If you are ready to have sex you should also be ready to deal with & face any possible consequences, including pregnancy, HIV AIDS or other STD's.

[Finmandos12]

As for guns: I believe people should be able to have handguns, if they have a license. I don't believe that people should be able to own rifles, except for maybe hunters. Elimination of all private gun ownership is against the Constitution.

As for abortion: I am against it, except in cases where the health of the mother is at stake.
I do not agree that women who have been raped can carry a resulting pregnancy to full term without suffering some sort of psychological break down and to then either give the child up for adoption or raise it yourself would only add to the pain.

True. But killing the baby will not make the pain from rape go away. Two wrongs don't make a right. Studies show that many women who have abortions excperience mental pain and guilt later in life. Also, very few abortions are by women who have been raped.

[markedel]

Constitutions are infinitely malleable devices...they're only as good as the people who safeguard them.

[Baby-K]

True. But killing the baby will not make the pain from rape go away. Two wrongs don't make a right. Studies show that many women who have abortions excperience mental pain and guilt later in life. Also, very few abortions are by women who have been raped.

Which is why I said that the choice should be well - informed. I did not mean to imply that abortion is the answer or the only option, however it still remains the choice of the woman. In a case of rape the paternal rights of the offender would not come in to play & so (for the most part) it is a choice that the woman would have to make alone.

I do agree that it could cause mental anguish later in life but, keeping in mind that studies are done using a "general mean population" it can't be concluded that findings are finite or apply to all people at all times.

And yes, most abortions are performed on teenage girls / woman who have fallen pregnant during consentual sexual intercourse - this is why in the last part of my post I said that I am against the availability of abortion as a quick solution to the lack of birth control.

[Wayfarer]

Here's a quirky thought:

Instead of abortion, they ought to remove the embryo and put it into an embryo bank for people who can't get pregnant. Save them the trouble of in vitro fertilization.

I'm not convinced that it would work, but it would certainly end the tragic waste of life.