[SWTXBelle]

That's just it - I am addressing the legal question (that's why it is in News & Politics). You can get distracted in all kinds of philosophical or moral debates, but the question at hand is geared towards the political. Of course, there is a moral issue, just as there is one when discussing murder. or marriage, or a variety of other subjects that have both a moral and legal aspect. Society enforces a certain morality through the laws they pass and enforce. I don't know that smoking is a good analogy - it certainly doesn't approach the moral import of a human life and whether that life should continue or not. I think most anti-smoking legislation has been approached through the idea that the rights of non-smokers should not be enfringed upon by smokers. Different animal, I think. The closest you get with the abortion debate is juggling the rights of the mother vs. the rights of the unborn - and then you get into the slippery slope of when does a fetus become a baby (much less clear-cut now thanks to modern medical technology).

Either you support the legality of abortion, or you don't. You can be "pro" legislation (like, oh, abortion) and not necessarily want one yourself (think of all those men voting for it!) The whys and wherefores can cloud the issue - but what states and ultimately the federal courts have to decide is whether or not abortion should be legal, AND if it is legal, should there be restrictions or limits? Read the whole Gallup Poll report - it is very interesting. Many who support the idea of legal abortion do so with some reservations - in other words, they believe there should be some restrictions. I'm sorry if I did not clarify - it is the political identification that is being discussed, at least for the most part.

eta - and upon reflection, I'm curious. For those of you who say you are anti-abortion in the sense that you would never have one, or feel it is immoral, but say you are pro-legal abortion, what is the rationale? I would assume (although you can correct me if I'm wrong) that if you are anti-abortion on a moral or personal level it is because you believe a human life is being ended and you believe that is wrong. If that is indeed the case, why would you support the right for others to have an abortion? And do you think that right should be unlimited (abortion up to the time the baby's head crowns) or are there limits you think the government should impose?

I am quite sincere when I say that I can't understand having one morality concerning human life for yourself, but another for society as a whole. I come from a very "pro-choice" family that has marched for PP - I myself at one time identified as pro-choice, but once I saw gypsyboot's picture at 6 weeks, that was it. That little peanut was my daughter, and could be nothing else. I understand those who say that a fetus does not exist as a human being until ________ (fill in the blank - viability is popular; others have other yardsticks) and thus can be aborted until that time, but I don't understand those who say yes, it is a human life, but the mother has the right to decide whether it lives or dies.