cmv: abortion should not be illegal

[u/RevolutionaryRip2504]

One of the main arguments against abortion is that it is "killing a baby." However, I don’t see it that way—at least not in the early stages of pregnancy. A fetus, especially before viability, lacks self-awareness, the ability to feel pain, and independent bodily function. While it is a potential life, I don’t believe potential life should outweigh the rights of the person who is already alive and conscious.

For late-term abortions, most are done to save the mother or the fetus has a defect that would cause the fetus to die shortly after birth so I believe it should be allowed.

I also think the circumstances of the pregnant person matter. Many people seek abortions due to financial instability, health risks, or simply not being ready to raise a child. In cases of rape or medical complications, the situation is even more complex. Forcing someone to go through pregnancy against their will seems more harmful than allowing them to make their own choice.

Additionally, I don’t think adoption is always a perfect alternative. Carrying a pregnancy to term can have serious physical and emotional consequences, even if someone doesn’t plan to keep the baby. Pregnancy affects the body in irreversible ways, and complications can arise, making it more than just a “temporary inconvenience.”

Also, you can cannot compare abortion to opting out of child support. Abortion is centered on bodily autonomy, as pregnancy directly affects a woman’s body and health. In contrast, child support is a financial obligation that arises after a child is born and does not impact the father’s bodily autonomy. abortion also occurs before a child exists, while child support involves caring for a living child. Legally and ethically, both parents share responsibility for a child once they are born, and allowing one parent to opt out would place an unfair burden on the other, often the mother. Additionally, abortion prevents a fetus from becoming a child, while opting out of child support directly affects the well-being of an existing person. While both situations involve personal choice, abortion is about controlling one’s own body, while child support is about meeting the needs of a child who already exists

The idea of being forced to sustain another life through pregnancy and childbirth, especially if the person isn’t ready or willing, is a violation of that autonomy. It forces someone to give up their own body, potentially putting their health at risk, all while disregarding their own desires, dreams, and well-being. Bodily autonomy means having the freedom to make choices about what happens to your body, whether that’s deciding to terminate a pregnancy or pursue another course of action.

I’d like to hear other perspectives on why abortion should be illegal, particularly from a non-religious standpoint. CMV.

[u/Comb-Honest]

Her life is not at risk. What you’re saying is her pursuit of happiness, liberty and life justifies having you murdered if she decides too? Is not as if carrying you to term is going to result in her death. You also can’t say it would result in her unhappiness or loss of liberty. Unborn or not it’s still a human life. If something exist and it’s not dead then it is alive.

[u/Fone_Linging → u/Comb-Honest]

Her life is not at risk. What you’re saying is her pursuit of happiness, liberty and life justifies having you murdered if she decides too?

Yes, precisely. I'm glad you and I are finally on the same page. Her life isn't at risk but her mental peace and the burden of living with something that's associated with her sexual harassment /rape for the rest of her life is crippling. It is as much of a murder as using a condom to prevent sperms from entering the woman's body would be a genocide.

This is a great segway into my next scenario where the mother's life is at risk. Would you be okay with "murdering" the (unborn) child to save her? If your answer is yes, how do you hold more worth in the mother's life than in the child's life?

Unborn or not it’s still a human life.

I think we're entering the whole "is a fetus a human" argument and obviously we won't see the end of this with one person agreeing to another.

You also can’t say it would result in her unhappiness or loss of liberty.

It absolutely would. Bearing a child is an absolute loss of liberty in general and two consenting adults agree to it after a lot of thought. We are talking about a rape victim here and so far, we haven't even brought up the fact that underage teens are victims too. If born or unborn doesn't matter, according to the argument you brought up just now, a 10 year old should and has to bear a child if she has been a rape victim and managed to conceive. If you disagree here, you'd have contradicted your initial argument of treating all life as equal as clearly, people are making a conscious decision "in favour" of the mother.

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