# Is abortion a "legal form" of genocide? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 17, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abortion-a-legal-form-of-genocide/506761 "2009-08-17T18:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abortion-a-legal-form-of-genocide/506761/61 "2009-08-18T17:41:05Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Why do you limit the commission of genocide to a group? I think an individual person, given the means, can commit genocide by any reasonable definition of the word. A single person who kills an entire group could be committing genocide. A single person who kills _one or two_ people, can’t be. Even if there are a whole lot of single people acting separately and independently to do this all the same time. Calling abortion murder is a stretch, but somewhat arguable. Calling it genocide is just nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abortion-a-legal-form-of-genocide/506761/62 "2009-08-23T18:44:44Z")
Sure, why not? Genocide for some, miniature American flags for others. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abortion-a-legal-form-of-genocide/506761/63 "2009-08-23T20:18:33Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in a rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abortion-a-legal-form-of-genocide/506761.md?page=3)