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[[Image:Baby.jpg|right|thumb|250px|An unborn child in the womb]]

[[Image:Baby.jpg|right|thumb|250px|An unborn child in the womb]]

'''Abortion''' is the induced termination of a [[pregnancy]],<ref>American Heritage Dictionary definition, [http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/A0020700.html abortion].</ref> often causing [[fetal pain]]. As of 2012, it is estimated there have been over 54 million babies murdered by abortion in the [[United States]] since 1973.<ref>''National Right to Life Committee''. [http://www.christianliferesources.com/?/library/view.php&articleid=1042 U.S. Abortion Statistics By Year (1973-Current)]. National Right to Life Factsheet, January 2012.</ref> Abortion is a billion-dollar industry in the [[United States]]. Although [[Planned Parenthood likes to claim abortion accounts for just 3% of its services, according to its 2007-08 budget, it received $1.038 billion of revenue, and half to two-thirds relates to its abortion services. (''See [[Abortion#Planned_Parenthood.27s_Budget|Planned Parenthood's Budget]]'') Dr. George Tiller "estimated that he performed 250 to 300 late-term abortions in 2003, each costing an average of $6,000."<ref>Hegeman, R. (2009, March 25). [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/03/25/kan_doctor_testifies_in_abortion_case_against_him/ Kan. doctor testifies in abortion case against him]. ''Associated Press''.</ref>  

'''Abortion''' is the induced termination of a [[pregnancy]],<ref>American Heritage Dictionary definition, [http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/A0020700.html abortion].</ref> often causing [[fetal pain]]. As of 2012, it is estimated there have been over 54 million babies murdered by abortion in the [[United States]] since 1973.<ref name=factsheet>''National Right to Life Committee''. [http://www.christianliferesources.com/?/library/view.php&articleid=1042 U.S. Abortion Statistics By Year (1973-Current)]. National Right to Life Factsheet, January 2012.</ref> Abortion is a billion-dollar industry in the [[United States]]. Although [[Planned Parenthood likes to claim abortion accounts for just 3% of its services, according to its 2007-08 budget, it received $1.038 billion of revenue, and half to two-thirds relates to its abortion services. (''See [[Abortion#Planned_Parenthood.27s_Budget|Planned Parenthood's Budget]]'') Dr. George Tiller "estimated that he performed 250 to 300 late-term abortions in 2003, each costing an average of $6,000."<ref>Hegeman, R. (2009, March 25). [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/03/25/kan_doctor_testifies_in_abortion_case_against_him/ Kan. doctor testifies in abortion case against him]. ''Associated Press''.</ref>  

'''''About 80% of women who see an ultrasound of their fetus (unborn child) decide not to abort'''''.<ref>(2005, April 22). [http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/145703/abortion_foes_use_ultrasound__focus_on_the_family_budgets/ Abortion Foes Use Ultrasound ; Focus on the Family Budgets Millions for Pricey Equipment]. ''RedOrbit''.</ref> Millions of women who had an abortion later suffer psychologically or physically from it, and support groups exist to help.<ref>Rodgers-Melnick, A. (2002, January 20). [http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20020120abortion0120p3.asp Groups support those who regret abortions]. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''.</ref>  Many victims of abortion find healing by speaking out against, and discouraging, similar harm to other mothers and their children.<ref>"I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born," observed President [[Ronald Reagan]].  He also observed, "With me, abortion is not a problem of religion, it's a problem of the Constitution. I believe that until and unless someone can establish that the unborn child ''is not a living human being'', then that child is already protected by the Constitution, which guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all of us."</ref>

'''''About 80% of women who see an ultrasound of their fetus (unborn child) decide not to abort'''''.<ref>(2005, April 22). [http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/145703/abortion_foes_use_ultrasound__focus_on_the_family_budgets/ Abortion Foes Use Ultrasound ; Focus on the Family Budgets Millions for Pricey Equipment]. ''RedOrbit''.</ref> Millions of women who had an abortion later suffer psychologically or physically from it, and support groups exist to help.<ref>Rodgers-Melnick, A. (2002, January 20). [http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20020120abortion0120p3.asp Groups support those who regret abortions]. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''.</ref>  Many victims of abortion find healing by speaking out against, and discouraging, similar harm to other mothers and their children.<ref>"I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born," observed President [[Ronald Reagan]].  He also observed, "With me, abortion is not a problem of religion, it's a problem of the Constitution. I believe that until and unless someone can establish that the unborn child ''is not a living human being'', then that child is already protected by the Constitution, which guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all of us."</ref>

"'''''Abortion doesn't solve your problems, it only creates different ones'''''," warned a full-page ad by women who had abortions.<ref>''Anglicans for Life'' and ''Priests for Life''. [http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/signaturead/ad.pdf We Regret Our Abortions]. ''Orange County Right to Life''.</ref> '''''Many women begin regretting their abortion before they even leave the abortion clinic'''''.  In some cases, women begin regretting their abortion just before it is performed, but are told by abortionists that it is too late to change their mind because they already signed a consent form (which is a lie - it is never too late to withdraw consent for an abortion).{{Fact}}   

"'''''Abortion doesn't solve your problems, it only creates different ones'''''," warned a full-page ad by women who had abortions.<ref>''Anglicans for Life'' and ''Priests for Life''. [http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/signaturead/ad.pdf We Regret Our Abortions]. ''Orange County Right to Life''.</ref> '''''Many women begin regretting their abortion before they even leave the abortion clinic'''''.  In some cases, women begin regretting their abortion just before it is performed, but are told by abortionists that it is too late to change their mind because they already signed a consent form (which is a lie - it is never too late to withdraw consent for an abortion).{{Fact}}   

'''''Abortion always ends the life of the unborn child, typically by dismemberment.  Abortion increases the risk of breast cancer, future premature birth, mental illness, and other long-term health problems for the mother''''', as detailed below. Sometimes women die from abortion.<ref>See "Documented Incidents of 365 Women Who Have Been Killed by "Safe" and Legal Abortion." [http://abortionviolence.com/DEATHS.HTM 365 women who have been killed by 'Legal' abortion]</ref> Since abortion is deliberate and thought about in advance, it is comparable to a premeditated killing.<ref>First-degree murder is defined as "a killing which is deliberate and premeditated." [http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/first+degree+murder]</ref>

'''''Abortion always ends the life of the unborn child, typically by dismemberment.  Abortion increases the risk of breast cancer, future premature birth, mental illness, and other long-term health problems for the mother''''', as detailed below. Sometimes women die from abortion.<ref>See "Documented Incidents of 365 Women Who Have Been Killed by "Safe" and Legal Abortion." [http://abortionviolence.com/DEATHS.HTM 365 women who have been killed by 'Legal' abortion]</ref> Since abortion is deliberate and thought about in advance, it is comparable to a premeditated killing.<ref>First-degree murder is defined as "a killing which is deliberate and premeditated."<br> [http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/first+degree+murder First Degree Murder]. ''The Free Dictionary''.</ref>

[[Abortion in Poland]] declined by 99% after [[communism]] was overthrown (and abortion abolished<ref>''Catholic World News'' (2007, April 11). [http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=50451 Liberal abortion law takes effect in Portugal]. Trinity Communications.</ref>), and women's health has dramatically improved there due to fewer abortions.<ref>Johnston, W.R., Dr. (2008, October 9). [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-poland.html Historical abortion statistics, Poland]. ''Johnston's Archive'.</ref>  

[[Abortion in Poland]] declined by 99% after [[communism]] was overthrown (and abortion abolished<ref>''Catholic World News'' (2007, April 11). [http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=50451 Liberal abortion law takes effect in Portugal]. Trinity Communications.</ref>), and women's health has dramatically improved there due to fewer abortions.<ref>Johnston, W.R., Dr. (2008, October 9). [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-poland.html Historical abortion statistics, Poland]. ''Johnston's Archive'.</ref>  

==Statistics on abortion==

==Statistics on abortion==

* As of 2012, it is estimated there has been over 54 million babies murdered by abortion since the Supreme Court handed down its 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. After reaching 25 percent from a high of over 1.6 million in the year 1990, the number of abortions performed annually in the U.S. has leveled off at about 1.2 million infants murdered by abortion a year, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI).<ref>[http://www.christianliferesources.com/?5511 National Right to Life Factsheet], January 2012, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI). The CDC ordinarily develops its annual report on the basis of data received from 52 central health agencies (50 states plus New York City and District of Columbia). AGI obtains its numbers from direct surveys of abortionists conducted every few years.</ref> (Privacy laws and likely desire to keep this silent holocaust from raising alarm hinders data collection on abortion. CDC researchers have admitted it probably undercounts the total number of abortions because reporting laws vary from state to state and some abortionists probably do not report or under-report the abortions they perform. Abortions from CA and NH have not been counted by the CDC since 1998, and  reports from other states are also missing for some years.)<ref>[]http://www.christianliferesources.com/?5511 National Right to Life Factsheet, January 2012</ref>

* As of 2012, it is estimated there has been over 54 million babies murdered by abortion since the Supreme Court handed down its 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. After reaching 25 percent from a high of over 1.6 million in the year 1990, the number of abortions performed annually in the U.S. has leveled off at about 1.2 million infants murdered by abortion a year, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI).<ref name=factsheet /> (Privacy laws and likely desire to keep this silent holocaust from raising alarm hinders data collection on abortion. CDC researchers have admitted it probably undercounts the total number of abortions because reporting laws vary from state to state and some abortionists probably do not report or under-report the abortions they perform. Abortions from CA and NH have not been counted by the CDC since 1998, and  reports from other states are also missing for some years.)<ref name=factsheet />

* Approximately 22% of all U.S. pregnancies ended in abortion (excluding miscarriages).<ref>Jones RK and Kooistra, K., Abortion incidence and access to services in the United States, 2008, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2011, 43(1):41-50.</ref>

* Approximately 22% of all U.S. pregnancies ended in abortion (excluding miscarriages).<ref>Jones RK and Kooistra, K., Abortion incidence and access to services in the United States, 2008, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2011, 43(1):41-50.</ref>

* Only about 1 percent each year are attributed to rape and incest. 40% of women ages 15 to 44 have had at least one abortion. 4 out of 10 teen pregnancies end in murder by abortion. Based on the rate of abortion, it was estimated (2000) that 43 percent of American women would  have at least one abortion by the age of 45.  

* Only about 1 percent each year are attributed to rape and incest. 40% of women ages 15 to 44 have had at least one abortion. 4 out of 10 teen pregnancies end in murder by abortion. Based on the rate of abortion, it was estimated (2000) that 43 percent of American women would  have at least one abortion by the age of 45.  

* 7 out of 10 U.S. women are sexually active (usually as fornicators) but do not want to become pregnant.<ref>Alan Guttmacher Institute, Facts in Brief,Induced Abortion, 2000</ref>  

* 7 out of 10 U.S. women are sexually active (usually as fornicators) but do not want to become pregnant.<ref>''Alan Guttmacher Institute'', In Brief: Fact Sheet, [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html/ Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States], August 2011.</ref>  

* Women who have never married and are not cohabiting account for 45% of all abortions. 57% of all women having abortions between 15-44 are in their 20’s. 36% of non-Hispanic women are abortions were white, 30% are non-Hispanic black, and 25% are hispanic.<ref>Jones RK, Finer LB and Singh S, Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients, 2008, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2010.</ref>

* Women who have never married and are not cohabiting account for 45% of all abortions. 57% of all women having abortions between 15-44 are in their 20’s. 36% of non-Hispanic women are abortions were white, 30% are non-Hispanic black, and 25% are hispanic.<ref name=patients>Jones RK, Finer LB and Singh S, [https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/US-Abortion-Patients.pdf Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients], 2008, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2010.</ref>

* 37% of women killing babies by abortion were Protestant, (include those who identified as “Christian” but who did not specify a denomination) while 28% were Catholic, and 20% identified themselves as born-again, evangelical, charismatic or fundamentalist (in 2000, some 13% of abortion patients aged 18 and older identified as born-again or evangelical before the question was reworded slightly for the 2008 survey), while 27% gave no religious affiliation, increasing from 22% in 2000. (Protestants were underrepresented among those committing abortion in proportion to the total number of Protestants nationwide, and the relative abortion rate for this group was lower than the rate for all women.) <ref>[https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/US-Abortion-Patients.pdf, Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients], 2008</ref>

* 37% of women killing babies by abortion were Protestant, (include those who identified as “Christian” but who did not specify a denomination) while 28% were Catholic, and 20% identified themselves as born-again, evangelical, charismatic or fundamentalist (in 2000, some 13% of abortion patients aged 18 and older identified as born-again or evangelical before the question was reworded slightly for the 2008 survey), while 27% gave no religious affiliation, increasing from 22% in 2000. (Protestants were underrepresented among those committing abortion in proportion to the total number of Protestants nationwide, and the relative abortion rate for this group was lower than the rate for all women.) <ref name=patients />

* Although 66% of women having abortions had some type of health insurance, 57% paid for their abortion out of pocket. Among women with private health insurance, 63% paid out of pocket.<ref>https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/US-Abortion-Patients.pdf</ref>

* Although 66% of women having abortions had some type of health insurance, 57% paid for their abortion out of pocket. Among women with private health insurance, 63% paid out of pocket.<ref name=patients />

==Arguments On Abortion==

==Arguments On Abortion==