# TIME TO DROP THE A-BOMB (Abortion) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 11, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922 "2003-09-11T05:42:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/21 "2003-09-11T14:35:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rklewis2 \* > **How about some medical reasons? How about the fact that there is a direct link to abortion and breast cancer in the potential mother? With each passing abortion, the chances of her getting breast cancer increase. By the third abortion, the chances are very high (perhaps 80-90%) that she will get breast cancer. This has been studied, and proven to be accurate.** I’d be interested in a cite to that study. Those are some pretty dramatic numbers. 80+% _will_ get breast cancer if they’ve had at least three abortions? That is a stunning number and I can’t help but wonder at its accuracy. Even if 80+% of ALL women who’ve had three or more abortions developed breast cancer you also need to show a causal link between the abortions and the breast cancer and suggest a mechanism by which this is caused. For instance, is there a lifestyle more common among women who have had three+ abortions in their lives that might be a contributing factor to developing breast cancer? Further, abortions are actually _very_ safe procedures when done by qualified personnel. It is actually FAR safer than carrying a child to term. > [@](#): > > It is about twice as safe as having tonsils removed, and is much safer than giving birth. In fact, it is 11 times safer than giving birth if it is performed before the 18th week of pregnancy. Most abortions, 90 percent, are performed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. > > SOURCE: [PPFA: Teenwire](http://www.teenwire.com/index.asp?taStrona=http://www.teenwire.com/ask/articles/as_19990922p021.asp) ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/22 "2003-09-11T15:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Can you honestly say that these risks are presented to a woman beforehand? Yep, most abortion clinics do thorough counselling beforehand, with all risks outlined. > [@](#): > > The few women I know who went through this all seem to have some form of nagging regret or sorrow. I imagine you know more women than you think who have gone through this procedure. Many women who have abortions don’t have “regret or sorrow,” and if you were aquainted with such a woman I doubt she would share the details of her experience with someone such as yourself. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/23 "2003-09-11T15:04:09Z")
I mean, someone such as yourself who may express disapproval. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/24 "2003-09-11T15:31:17Z")
> [@](#): > > If it doesnt exist, there should be credible adoption agencies that are purely confidential and free of charge for those who are either not mature or incapable of raising a child Abortion and Adoption are not methods of birth control! They both come with life long consequences. People should think BEFORE they play. Adoption is not free of charge. And don’t think for a second that Adoption agencies aren’t making a killing these days. Just like abortion, adoption is “forever” ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/25 "2003-09-11T16:51:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rpkc4 \* > \*\* IF you aren’t willing to practice abstinence, you are responsible for the consequences. \*\* I take perfect responsibility for my sexual choices, thankyouverymuch. Should my pill somehow fail, I have three hundred dollars saved up and Planned Parenthood’s phone number. Abortion- in a country where it is legal and safe- is a perfectly acceptable way of “taking responsibility”. Trying to take that away on grounds of “responsibilty” is merely creating artificial consequences for an action and smacks of trying to control women’s sexual behavoir just for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/26 "2003-09-11T16:54:53Z")
re homicide for killing someone else’s unborn, it’s a matter of intent and the right to make the decision. e.g., if I break in to your home and steal a sack of garbage, it’s still felony breaking and entering and burglary – even if you intended to throw it out. It isn’t your decision to make. If, in fact, the mother _didn’t_ want to “throw out” her unborn, that makes it worse. But it’s still her choice to make, and no one else’s. Trinopus ---
**Author:** ![lyrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/da6949/32.png) [@lyrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lyrl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/27 "2003-09-11T17:48:47Z")
A related question I see in some of the anti-abortion posts is whether a couple who is unwilling to carry a pregnancy to term should have sex. Consider: All forms of birth control, including sterilization, have failure rates. There is no practical way for a third party to determine if an unwanted pregnancy is a result of not using birth control, using birth control incorrectly, or is a genuine BC failure. A belief that abortion is not a viable way of taking responsibility for an unwanted pregnancy seems to say that only couples willing to carry a pregnancy to term should have sex. I don’t really understand this position. I also see it implied in alot of pro-life posts, but I’m not sure how widespread the belief is among abortions foes. Any comments? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/28 "2003-09-11T19:59:00Z")
It is remarkable insulting for people to frame pregnancy as a failure to “think” before you “play.” I suspect it’s just a lot easy to be sanctimonious when you can frame all unwanted pregnancies as being the result of a bunch of careless morons with no self control. I do think it’s beyond strange that we have this thread, now, started by someone who hasn’t been around for more than 11 days. Some of these same exact things were discussed in Homer J Simpson’s recent thread–for example, the occurance of regret. What, is the debate not good enough unless YOU start it? Since we’re going over old old ground, here’s a question to answer: if human life begins at conception, why don’t we have funerals after early miscarriages? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/29 "2003-09-11T20:07:06Z")
You can declare abortions evil and wrong and eliminate them as soon as you can figure out how to enable people to have as much sex as they want to and never have to be pregnant involuntarily _without_ resorting to abortion. It is a bigger evil by far to force people to remain pregnant against their will. And a bigger evil even than that to condone a situation that establishes and enforced polarized oppositional double-standard sexual attitudes. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/30 "2003-09-11T20:14:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rklewis2 \* > \*\* Can you honestly say that these risks are presented to a woman beforehand? I doubt that very highly. \*\* You know what? You don’t have to make lame guesses in Great Debates. Finding out some facts beforehand is not just welcomed, it’s encouraged. In about three minutes of reading, I learned that in two states, abortion providers are specifically required by law to tell women about the possible link to breast cancer. Granted, the American Cancer Society and other reputable cancer institutes think the jury is still out on the findings. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/31 "2003-09-11T20:20:07Z")
I’m a ‘his,’ **Optihut**. 😉 Thanks. > [@](#): > > The few women I know who went through this all seem to have some form of nagging regret or sorrow. That doesn’t mean abortion is wrong. That just reinforces what (I hope) everybody knows (some people don’t seem to acknowledge it): having an abortion is an extremely difficult choice and is not an action lightly undertaken. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/32 "2003-09-11T20:24:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by even sven \* > \*\* . . . Abortion- in a country where it is legal and safe- is a perfectly acceptable way of “taking responsibility”. . . \*\* Yep. It’s as if I were to go skiing, and break my leg, and then someone tells me I must “take responsibility” by _not_ having a doctor set and splint the bone! Applying a remedy _is_ taking responsibility! Trinopus ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/33 "2003-09-11T20:55:59Z")
I thought this was going to be a thread about abortion by nuclear weapons. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/34 "2003-09-11T21:51:13Z")
Heh, seems a pretty weak debate. “ABORTION IS WRONG”! That’s it! No argument! I’m not listening “neener neener neeeener”. Sheesh. We can debate until the cows come home. In the end, the freedom of abortion should always be there. It’s your own personal choice if you’re going to use it or not. Hell, driving is a choice and I’m sure more people die in driving relationed mishaps than abortions (figuring all fetuses are people). Should be outlaw driving? Hell, why don’t no-choice people restict all dangerous activites including sex, driving, guns, skiing, parachuting etc? Seems a better way to “save lives”. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/35 "2003-09-11T23:00:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought this was going to be a thread about abortion by nuclear weapons. I’m against abortion by nuclear weapons. The risks are just too dang high. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/36 "2003-09-12T01:08:55Z")
It’s time for Strategic Abortion Limitation Talks. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/37 "2003-09-12T01:17:40Z")
> [@](#): > > quote: > > > [@](#): > > > > I thought this was going to be a thread about abortion by nuclear weapons. > > I’m against abortion by nuclear weapons. The risks are just too dang high What, you’d interfere with a nuke’s right to choose? Even in the early phases before she’s attained critical mass? ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/38 "2003-09-12T01:24:07Z")
> [@](#): > > If you are going to screw at least do it responsibly and take precautions. If you screw up then face your responsibility. YES! The slut has to PAY for what she has done! How dare she be allowed to enjoy sex without being forced to incubate any zygotes that may have accidently be created as a result to full term! ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/39 "2003-09-12T03:58:53Z")
In these abortion discussions I always talk about numbers and discrimination in poorer countries like my own. ``` Its very easy to talk about banning abortion when your middle class and can afford an illegal abortion more easily. The numbers of deaths and complications associated with Illegal and self induced abortions in Brazil are very big. Illegal abortions kill tens of thousands of women. Its a major health risk that is totally unnecessary if we had legalized abortion. Arguments like taking responsibility fall apart when you consider that: ``` - Most of these women have very low educational levels - Religious family TEND to NOT teach sexual education nor do schools. - Even when informed and trying to use birth control methods… financial limits and inexperience stop them from effectively preventing pregnancy. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922/40 "2003-09-12T06:10:47Z")
**ABORTION IS WRONG.** Um. Duh! Your point, though? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-drop-the-a-bomb-abortion/200922.md?page=3)