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  • Essay / Abortion in the United States: Why I Choose Pro-Choice

    From 1973 to 1987, more than 22 million abortions were performed. Pro-lifers would call this a terrible waste of human life. It is true that 22 million lives were lost, but I believe we are better off without it. Webster's Dictionary defines abortion as "the expulsion of a non-viable fetus." Abortion is perhaps the most controversial topic today. I'm sure by now you've heard about all the different types of abortion. Almost all abortions performed in the United States are surgical abortions, where the fetus is removed by aspiration or other means. (Medication offers another option, which will be discussed later in this report.) In a vacuum abortion, the fetus is dismembered and removed through a small tube. This process only takes about 10 minutes and the mother experiences little to no physical discomfort. Pro-lifers immediately assert that emotional trauma and guilt haunt every woman after an abortion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay However, during my research, I found many women who led (and continue to lead) meaningful, consequence-free lives after their abortions. I think the mother's mental state depends a lot on her personal feelings about the abortion and the actual experience she had before and during the abortion. I have found that most of the time, they resort to a few strategies to make their views known. One tactic pro-lifers use to convince people of their point of view is to play on fear and emotions. Their graphic descriptions and gruesome images are a crude attempt to "scare" people into having abortions, while their pious speeches and sobs attempt to make us feel sorry for them and Another Popular Pro-Life Strategy is to protest things like “Life begins at conception!” The fetus is human! Science has proven these facts, and proponents of choice are in no way trying to deny them. However, pro-choice people believe that the rights of the parents (i.e. the mother) trump the rights of the unborn child. None of these tactics work on pro-choice people like me. It is true that pro-lifers have the right to express their opinion (as do I), but I find that some of their methods (as illustrated in the next section) are very unorthodox. A new bill was introduced in April 1994. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (aka FACE or FACEA) protects women seeking abortions and the facilities that perform them. Specifically, FACE protects reproductive health service staff and patients from violent threats, assaults, vandalism and blockages. was signed by President Clinton on May 26, 1994, but angry pro-lifers continue to violate this law. The consequences for a first-time offender cannot exceed one year in prison and/or a fine of $100,000. Repeat offenders face a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000. In the event of injury, the sentence increases to 10 years. If death results from the offense, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. I think it's time for FACEA. Pro-lifers have gone quite far with their “protests” outside clinics across the country. Numerous news clips have shown pro-lifers throwing objects at women as they enter a clinic. In one extreme case, an off-duty police officer (acting as a bodyguard) and the husband of a woman seeking an abortion were,.