# What is the point of abolishing abortion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 30, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471 "2024-08-30T16:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/41 "2024-08-30T18:55:20Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I do wish there was easy, free birth control that was 100% successful. There isn’t much in life that is 100% successful, so demanding perfection concerning this one aspect seem to be extremely inconsistent. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/42 "2024-08-30T19:12:11Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I do wish there was easy, free birth control that was 100% successful. That would be nice, but as noted, not possible. There’s a concept called the “Iron Triangle,” which may have originated in computers, or in engineering, but which we use frequently in market research. The basic idea is, “fast, cheap, or good/accurate: you can have two out of the three.” In essence, any solution that is both fast and cheap is likely to have poor quality, while any solution that is fast and accurate won’t be cheap, etc. “Easy, free, and 100% reliable” birth control is, in effect, an Iron Triangle problem. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/43 "2024-08-30T19:14:21Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > The Catholic Church doesn’t say sex for pleasure is bad, but it does hold that sex should 1) only take place within the bonds of marriage, and 2) it should always be open to the possibility of conception, so any artificial birth control is technically forbidden (“natural” birth control such as natural family planning is acceptable). It’s a policy that most Catholics seem to quietly not follow as far as I can tell. Pretty much this. I read a study that showed that Catholics use birth control AND have abortions about the same as the general public. What is not permitted by the Holy Mother Church is essentially ignored by almost everyone. The priesthood is about as celibate as you’d expect, as well. But as to the OP, I believe this is a case of the dog catching the car. Most never expected Roe to be overturned, it was just a rallying cry. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/44 "2024-08-30T19:16:08Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Women don’t really want to have sex just for the sake of it with lots of different men. Why? Hormones. > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Men do use women for sex. I will just say that both of these statements are overly and unfairly broad generalizations, to the point of inaccuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/45 "2024-08-30T19:17:58Z")
From talking to my parents, who are both pretty much single issue “pro-life” voters, it’s both abortion-is-murder and sexual puritanism. Note that neither of them, in a time and place where you could be killed for it, abstained from premarital sex. But they are 100% in favor of raining hellfire on people who have sex outside marriage and for reasons other than procreation. Yes, I have a huge family. My generation is 30 siblings and first cousins. This cycle is repeating in my generation. Many people having enjoyed the looser sexual mores of the West after emigrating in their young adulthood, are now in their 50s and 60s very religious and very prudish about their kids! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/46 "2024-08-30T19:18:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are supposed to hold the Bible while pontificating, and not actually _read_ it. Especially not the books of the Hebrew Bible, which have _a lot_ of sex, lust, rape, incest, prostitution, and adultery, not always in a negative context. The Christian Old Testament abridges some of that but there is still some real horrowshow sexy-time stuff. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/47 "2024-08-30T19:39:45Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > you must deliver your disobedient child to be murdered by the town, if he’s disobedient to you. I like the cut of your jib! > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I believe abortion is murder. Its legal and I would not fight to make it illegal. Interesting. If I thought something was murder, or the same as murder, I would fight to make it illegal. > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Women don’t really want to have sex just for the sake of it with lots of different men. Hey, did you know you could get pregnant and want an abortion after having sex just with a few men, or just one man? It’s true! It’s not the number of men that you have sex with that determines whether you will get pregnant. Anyway, just wondering if there are any women on this Board that like to have sex just for the fun of it. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/48 "2024-08-30T20:01:30Z")
I did, when I was young, and unmarried. I also did _when_ I was married. Seriously, hormones? How does that figure into whether you do it for pleasure? I’d hazard that hormones incline people, _ **women** _ to have sex for fun. Obviously some people’s mmv. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/49 "2024-08-30T20:04:20Z")
This is crazy talk! Kidding, of course! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/50 "2024-08-30T20:09:11Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > > > you must deliver your disobedient child to be murdered by the town, if he’s disobedient to you. > > I like the cut of your jib! If I was your father, that’d certainly be the advisable response! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/51 "2024-08-30T20:11:05Z")
Remember, it takes a village to murder a child. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/52 "2024-08-30T20:20:25Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Anyway, just wondering if there are any women on this Board that like to have sex just for the fun of it. Hot take: people who think women don’t enjoy sex must not be very good at sex. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/53 "2024-08-30T20:23:46Z")
So, anyway, back to the OP, I imagine there are a few reasons: 1. You think abortion is something like murder and is therefore wrong 2. You think sex in general is wrong and should only be for procreation. So, sex for fun should come with consequences 3. You want to control women’s sexuality 4. You want to make sure poor people stay poor (since people with means will definitely find a way to get an abortion if they want one) 5. Probably lots of stuff I haven’t thought of ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/54 "2024-08-30T21:00:12Z")
The only thing I can think of for making abortion fully unlawful is for controlling women. Abortion should be between the woman, her doctor and her conscience. Nothing else matters imho. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/55 "2024-08-30T22:19:39Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I remember a Catholic nun saying many years ago something to the effect that in many cases, what people want is a child to be born, That was Sr. Joan Chittester. She summed up for me what I had been thinking about efforts to ban abortion and CHIP, Medicaid, and other social servies that address children’s needs. Jesus did have something to say about that in Matthew 19:13-15, but that seems to have fallen on deaf ears. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/56 "2024-08-30T22:47:52Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > What I don’t understand is if it’s okay to kill your child because it’s not viable, why not continue that with people on life support or who are inconvenient for some reason. 1. Aunt Dorothy is an adult who may have created a living will expressing her desires for how she wants her end of life to go. 2.,Aunt Dorothy being in a coma doesn’t threaten the life of anyone else, the way many non-viable fetuses threaten the life of the woman pregnant with them. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/57 "2024-08-30T23:07:29Z")
It’s to hurt, kill and control women, to demonize their opponents as “child killers”, and to justify right wing violence and tyranny in general. Malice to the core, like everything else the Right does. > [@Rebo](#): > > Thanks. It’s so hard to wrap my mind around it. They think it’s God’s will to let mothers die from sepsis - through no fault of their own. Just like the good old days! Keep in mind that they’ve always felt that the woman _is_ at fault. Women in the view of the religious right are the source of all evil and the entire point of pregnancy and childbirth is divine punishment them for the Sin of Eve. They oppose abortion in part for the same reason their predecessors opposed the use of painkillers during childbirth; because they consider it their _moral duty to hurt women_ as much as possible. If a woman dies in agony due to childbirth? It’s what she _deserves_ for being a woman, and thus evil. “Every woman who dies is a victory for morality” as I saw it put once. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/58 "2024-08-30T23:19:47Z")
You cannot abolish abortion. You can outlaw it. The point of enforcing anti-abortion laws is to reduce the number of abortions. We can argue over the motivation behind that goal, but that’s the goal and the point. Unfortunately for the cause of reducing abortions, outlawing abortion has been, so far, even more of an own-goal than alcohol prohibition was: [Despite Bans, Number of Abortions in the United States Increased in 2023](https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/despite-bans-number-abortions-united-states-increased-2023) I do not think this is a one-off for 2023. Outlawing abortion makes it a women’s rights issue, and women’s rights is a winner in the marketplace of ideas. Personally, and not judging any individual abortion, I am pro-natalist and see a force to the idea that fetal life has value. But making this an issue of legal control was a mistake, just from the standpoint of reducing abortion. They should have stuck with moral suasion. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/59 "2024-08-30T23:29:37Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The point of enforcing anti-abortion laws is to reduce the number of abortions. We can argue over the motivation behind that goal, but that’s the goal and the point. Not really, no. That’s why they don’t care about birth control, and why they don’t hesitate to get abortions themselves, or to force abortions on women when they find it convenient, or to let pregnant women die in agony. The “anti-abortion” movement is about hurting women, not abortion. If abortion magically stopped tomorrow, they’d find some other club to beat women with because _that_ is the point. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471/60 "2024-08-30T23:42:03Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 2.,Aunt Dorothy being in a coma doesn’t threaten the life of anyone else, the way many non-viable fetuses threaten the life of the woman pregnant with them. Yes. Non viable fetus’s that endanger the mothers life. Thats why I don’t ever vote to make it illegal. I just wish it were never necessary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-abolishing-abortion/1006471.md?page=4)