Survey: Majority of Americans Still Want to Keep Abortions Legal

Lawrence Jones

Christian Post Reporter

Tue, Nov. 13 2007 06:34 AM ET

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Most people in the United States still believe abortion should be allowed, a recent poll found.

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(Photo: AP Images / Stacie Freudenberg, File)

Protester Leon Clark holds an anti-abortion sign as traffic passes by along a street in Aurora, Ill., near the new Planned Parenthood location Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007.

In a poll by TNS, released by the Washington Post and ABC News, American adults were asked in telephone interviews whether they thought abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases.

Of those who participated, 55 percent said they think that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 43 percent disagreed.

While the results show that the number of respondents who support legal abortions in all or most cases has been fairly consistent since February 2007, the percentage of Americans who would want abortion to be legal in all cases dropped from 23 to 19 between July and November.

In contrast, the number of those who believe the termination of a pregnancy should always be illegal has been steadily climbing since February, rising from 14 percent in July to 16 percent in November.

But Americans who support making abortion illegal in most cases has been dropping. In February, 31 percent of respondents said they wanted abortions in most cases to be declared illegal but that figure went down to 27 percent in the recent poll.

Under the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling, women have a right to choose an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. The ruling also regulated the procedure during the second trimester "in ways that are reasonably related to maternal health."

The Supreme Court upheld a federal law banning certain late-term abortions in April 2007.

There were 1,131 American adults who participated in the survey TNS conducted from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.

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GMG

Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:25 pm
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I wish with all my heart that we would have reason to believe that rape, incest, etc. are ills that could be cured. But my Bible tells me that these things are not going to go away, and in fact will get worse.

So many girls/women get abortions because of desperation. When they are faced with what to do, that little life can easily be brushed aside as just some "tissue". This is partly due to their preoccupation with the reality of their own lives and how inconvenient it is for them, and partly due to all those voices out there that say, "oh yes, you have the right to decide what to do with your own body, you can just plan your family when you're ready, it's no big deal". When we're desperate, don't we tend to go for the easiest solution that seems to cause the least problems? The secular world is very fond of saying there are no repercussions from this decision, and disdain the idea that it causes lingering psychological problems, that that's just a bunch of hype.

We need to keep getting the information out there as to the proof that this is indeed life (we have wonderful pictures too, I'm thinking of the one where that little fetus grabs the finger of the doctor), provide education and assistance, make adoption readily available, and work towards making abortion illegal. If abortion is not an easy alternative, it won't be an easy choice.

Prophet

Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:58 am
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I believe with my whole heart that abortion is wrong. I believe its a sin. But, as I said earlier, if we eliminated the reasons for "needing" and abortion (rape, promiscuous sex, incest, etc) then the proponents of abortion are left with almost no cards to play in their favor. All that's left is abortion in the case of life threatening situations. And I've already expressed my opinion on that as well. But I do believe that abortion is a sin, yes.

GMG

Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:32 pm
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In a sense we are fighting a losing battle, because we know how it's going to all come out in the end, and until that time there will be all those issues. But the winning part of the battle is all those people who will belong to our Lord when that day comes, and yes we are to shine his light in the battle for souls for Him, until the appointed time arrives.

But in the meantime, are you saying the issue of whether abortion is legal or not has no importance? Isn't that kind of like saying it doesn't matter what kind of laws we have against drugs or stealing or murder, or even speeding, because the lost are more subject to that anyway? I agree basically with the things you are saying, I just don't understand what you would do with the issue of abortion. Let it lie?

Prophet

Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:31 pm
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GMG
Exactly! "...these things have only minimal impact because of how far we are from God.....but of course we already know that. That's the crux of the problem."
These problems will always exist. We will never do away with them. There will always be rape, incest, promiscous sex, etc until Jesus sets up His kingdom. I know it sounds like we are fighting a losing battle. But the battle isn't necessarily to eliminate the sin...it's to draw the sinner into repentance. Sin will always exist until Jesus throws Satan into the pit for eternity. But God asks us, as Christians, to remove sin from our lives and to draw others to the Cross. And then God will convict their hearts.
Case in point...at one time, as a Christian, I believed that the death penalty was entirely justifiable. But now that I am learning more about God's love and grace, I find that it is not God's will. "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." Matthew 5:38-40. That's a tough road to walk! I'm learning to walk that road of real Godly love.

GMG

Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:27 pm
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Let me add -- I know what the world needs is God. But though salvation is available for the asking, we'll still have the problem of abortion for those who refuse to ask, and we know there will always be those who refuse to ask. So then what?

GMG

Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:21 pm
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I don't disagree with the idea that we should address the causes of abortion, but there are many reasons people give for wanting them. So how would you go about fixing that?

One way, arguably the best way, is by acknowledging that that fetus is a life, and can you justify murder. But of course that is not going to hold up for many people. So what's left?
Providing assistance for those who need it, education on how not to get pregnant, teaching abstinence, providing adoption services, there are a number of these things already going on with varying degrees of success. I might add that a lot of these things have only minimal impact because of how far we are from God.....but of course we already know that. That's the crux of the problem.

So what are your suggestions?

ifeelfine72

Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:25 pm
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Well said Prophet - I feel exactly the same way!

Prophet

Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:09 pm
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holito8
I see your point. God doesn't expect the heathens to believe or hold to the same tenets we do. The important thing is their salvation first. Then these other things can be dealt with. BUT....that will not excuse them if they die without the salvation of Jesus Christ. They will still be held accountable for their deeds.
But that is why i hold firm to this statement..."Why do we struggle so with the problem of abortion. Why not deal with all the reasons WHY people think they need abortion. That is the root. And that is what needs to be dealt with. If we fixed all those problems then abortion would not even be an issue. As it is, we are trying to cure a symptom...but not the cause."

Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:51 am
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To Holito8:

Beloved, you said "He did not expect the pagans to do the same.". While this may or may not be true, it was addressed by Paul when he was invited to address the Grecians. You will find this written in Acts:

"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

The times of ignorance are over. They ended a long time ago. We are now without any excuse.

Dear one, you also said "God sends His people to preach the good news. He does not send them to enforce it.".

How true this is.

But doesn't it also say "You shall know them by their fruits". If we are to know them by their fruits, we are also allowed to discern the fruits themselves. If the fruits are rotten, we are allowed to encourage them, not judge them. We encourage them by showing them what is right, as Paul was doing with the Grecians.

holito8

Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:04 am
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When I read this scripture I don't see any separation between harm to mother only, baby only, or mother and baby. Any harm to mom OR baby is the issue, which indicates that God sees this fetus as a life worthy of protection. There is no indication as to whether this fetus was one week or 31 weeks old making any difference, it is still a life to be protected.

I understand what you are saying. But all people are not Christians. God was telling His people His requirements. He did not expect the pagans to do the same. God sends His people to preach the good news. He does not send them to enforce it.

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