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[[Image:Baby.jpg|right|thumb|250px|An unborn child in the third trimester in the womb. Many liberals believe that the unborn child has no right to life.]]

[[Image:Baby.jpg|right|thumb|250px|An unborn child in the third trimester in the womb. Many liberals believe that a woman's "right to choice" is more important the unborn child's right to life.]]

'''Abortion''' is the medically induced or physical termination of a human [[pregnancy]],<ref>American Heritage Dictionary definition, [http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/A0020700.html abortion].</ref> potentially causing [[fetal pain]] if performed after 20-24 weeks.<ref>http://www.mccl.org/unborn-babies-can-feel-pain.html</ref><ref>Lee, S. J. (2005). "Fetal Pain: A Systematic Multidisciplinary Review of the Evidence". JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association 294 (8): 947–54.</ref> As of 2013, an estimated 56 million abortions have been performed in the [[United States]] since 1973's landmark [[Roe v. Wade]] case,<ref>http://www.numberofabortions.com/</ref> although abortions had been performed illegally before then.<ref>Boyer, Ed. by Paul S. (2006). The Oxford companion to United States history. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-19-508209-8.</ref> Abortion is a profitable 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 medically induced or physical termination of a human [[pregnancy]],<ref>American Heritage Dictionary definition, [http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/A0020700.html abortion].</ref> potentially causing [[fetal pain]] if performed after 20-24 weeks.<ref>http://www.mccl.org/unborn-babies-can-feel-pain.html</ref><ref>Lee, S. J. (2005). "Fetal Pain: A Systematic Multidisciplinary Review of the Evidence". JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association 294 (8): 947–54.</ref> As of 2013, an estimated 56 million abortions have been performed in the [[United States]] since 1973's landmark [[Roe v. Wade]] case,<ref>http://www.numberofabortions.com/</ref> although abortions had been performed illegally before then.<ref>Boyer, Ed. by Paul S. (2006). The Oxford companion to United States history. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-19-508209-8.</ref> Abortion is a profitable industry in the [[United States]], managed in large part by organizations like [[Abortion#Planned_Parenthood's_Budget|Planned Parenthood]].

All of the arguments for abortion fall flat when given serious scrutiny. Right to choice is a misnomer, since moral people can recognize that choosing to murder is a choice worthy of punishment. Right to one's body is no excuse for using that body to harm others. A right to privacy should not permit the taking of life when that life is inconvenient, whether in the privacy of one's own home or own body. And  

Social conservatives believe that all arguments for abortion fall flat when given serious scrutiny. Right to choice is a misnomer, since moral people can recognize that choosing to murder is a choice worthy of punishment. Right to one's body is no excuse for using that body to harm others. A right to privacy should not permit the taking of life when that life is inconvenient, whether in the privacy of one's own home or own body. And  

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as Thomas Lucente Jr. once pointed out, saying one can't criticize a woman's choice to murder her children is the same as saying one can't criticize the president without being the president.<ref name=lucente>Lucente Jr., T.J. (2012, January 29). [http://www.limaohio.com/articles/right-78475-privacy-one.html Right to Privacy is Not a License to Kill]. ''LimaOhio.com.'' Freedom Communications, Inc.</ref> Both life of the mother and rape are rare circumstances accounting for less than 1% of all abortions, with little bearing on the broader "abortion on demand" issue, particularly since all legislation the Pro-Life movement has been putting out recently has included exceptions for them, and many states had laws allowing abortion for such cases before Roe v. Wade - abortion was legalized for other reasons. (''See [[Abortion#Arguments_On_Abortion|Arguments On Abortion]]'')  

as Thomas Lucente Jr. once pointed out, saying one can't criticize a woman's choice to murder her children is the same as saying one can't criticize the president without being the president.<ref name=lucente>Lucente Jr., T.J. (2012, January 29). [http://www.limaohio.com/articles/right-78475-privacy-one.html Right to Privacy is Not a License to Kill]. ''LimaOhio.com.'' Freedom Communications, Inc.</ref> Both life of the mother and rape are rare circumstances accounting for less than 1% of all abortions, with little bearing on the broader "abortion on demand" issue, particularly since all legislation the pro-life movement has been putting out recently has included exceptions for them, and many states had laws allowing abortion for such cases before Roe v. Wade - abortion was legalized for other reasons. (''See [[Abortion#Arguments_On_Abortion|Arguments On Abortion]]'')  

Ultimately, this debate is about when a fetus becomes a human being worthy of all applicable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness under the [[Declaration of Independence]], for once it is we should not take its life lightly. And when it comes to that, 18,150 abortions occur after the 21st week of pregnancy<ref name=induced>(2011, August). [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html/ Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States]. ''Guttmacher Institute''.</ref> - the earliest point children can be born prematurely and live.<ref name=tooyoung>Rochman, B. (2011, May 27). [http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/27/baby-born-at-21-weeks-survives-how-young-is-too-young-to-save/ A 21-Week-Old Baby Survives and Doctors Ask, How Young is Too Young to Save?] ''Time Magazine''.</ref> An additional 45,980 abortions occur in the 16th-20th weeks of pregnancy.<ref name=induced /> These are 60 thousand abortions each year that are clearly murder, since the child is at or near the same stage of pregnancy as children born prematurely via C-Section. Furthermore, substantial fetal development occurs within the first 12 weeks (1st trimester) of pregnancy, including brain wave activity at 6 weeks, complete body sensitivity at 10 weeks, and all facial expressions (including smiling) at 11 weeks.<ref name=clowes>Clowes, Brian, PhD. 2001. [http://www.hli.org/index.php/the-facts-of-life/480?task=view The Facts of Life]. Ch. 12. Front Royal: Human Life International.

Ultimately, this debate is about when a fetus becomes a human being worthy of all applicable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness under the [[Declaration of Independence]], for once it is we should not take its life lightly. And when it comes to that, 18,150 abortions occur after the 21st week of pregnancy<ref name=induced>(2011, August). [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html/ Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States]. ''Guttmacher Institute''.</ref> - the earliest point children can be born prematurely and live.<ref name=tooyoung>Rochman, B. (2011, May 27). [http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/27/baby-born-at-21-weeks-survives-how-young-is-too-young-to-save/ A 21-Week-Old Baby Survives and Doctors Ask, How Young is Too Young to Save?] ''Time Magazine''.</ref> An additional 45,980 abortions occur in the 16th-20th weeks of pregnancy.<ref name=induced /> These are 60 thousand abortions each year that are clearly murder, since the child is at or near the same stage of pregnancy as children born prematurely via C-Section. Furthermore, substantial fetal development occurs within the first 12 weeks (1st trimester) of pregnancy, including brain wave activity at 6 weeks, complete body sensitivity at 10 weeks, and all facial expressions (including smiling) at 11 weeks.<ref name=clowes>Clowes, Brian, PhD. 2001. [http://www.hli.org/index.php/the-facts-of-life/480?task=view The Facts of Life]. Ch. 12. Front Royal: Human Life International.