The notion that making abortion illegal equates to valuing life is fundamentally flawed. When officials, such as the outspoken anti-abortion vice president, proclaim their intent to “restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law,” it often excludes the sanctity of women’s lives themselves. In their pursuit to eliminate the right to safe abortions, the lives of countless women are jeopardized.
During a recent address to an anti-abortion organization, the vice president expressed satisfaction with what he termed as “life winning in America.” He highlighted the administration’s “great progress” in restricting legal abortion access both domestically and internationally. Specifically, he mentioned the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, which prevents U.S. funding for organizations that provide abortions abroad, as well as his pivotal vote to allow states to defund health organizations like Planned Parenthood.
This begs the question: how can an administration that seeks to limit access to essential healthcare, including safe and legal abortions, claim to uphold the value of life? The contradiction is stark. The anti-abortion movement, while branding itself as “pro-life,” often neglects the health, safety, and emotional well-being of women—both in the United States and beyond.
History has demonstrated that criminalizing abortion does not eliminate the procedure; it merely renders it unsafe. For example, a report from the Guttmacher Policy Review indicates that in 1930, illegal abortions accounted for 2,700 women’s deaths, constituting 18% of all maternal fatalities. In the 1950s and 60s, illegal abortions persisted, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 1.2 million annually, representing 17% of maternal deaths during that time. Women faced severe health risks, including septic shock and infections from unsafe procedures, with wealthier women often having better outcomes due to access to private medical care. Should abortion be outlawed again, it is likely that the same disparities would emerge.
According to the CDC, over 650,000 women underwent abortions in 2014. Does the vice president genuinely believe that banning abortion will dissuade women from making choices about their bodies? The reality is that prohibiting abortion will force women back into dangerous situations, risking their health and lives for the sake of a law that does not protect them.
Moreover, consider the implications for women who might feel compelled to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. Some of these children may enter impoverished or abusive environments, born to mothers who may not be equipped emotionally or financially to raise them. Although adoption is often suggested as a solution, it brings its own challenges, including the psychological toll on women who must carry pregnancies resulting from trauma such as rape or incest. The mental health of women must be considered as paramount in discussions about life and choice.
Once these children are born, what assurances exist for their healthcare? The recent political maneuvers to attach healthcare funding for low-income children to unrelated legislative agendas reveal a troubling hypocrisy. If the vice president truly valued life, he and his party would advocate for expanded access to birth control and comprehensive sex education—evidence shows that such measures effectively reduce unwanted pregnancies and, consequently, abortions.
Despite the decrease in abortion rates in the U.S. since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, anti-abortion advocates continue to push for regressive policies that threaten to revert society to the hazardous era of unregulated abortions. The statistics are clear: outlawing abortion endangers women’s lives, inflicting both physical and psychological harm.
In conclusion, the idea that making abortion illegal can restore the sanctity of life is not only misleading but potentially deadly. The lives of women are equally sacred, and it is vital that their voices and choices are respected and protected.
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