Banning abortion after twenty weeks?
Pro-life advocates believe that fetuses can feel pain at 20 weeks. The youngest reported baby to survive outside the womb was in gestation just under 22 weeks. Pro-choice advocates point to evidence that survival is almost impossible before 24 weeks, and note that federal courts have struck down some state abortion bans at 20 weeks.
“Setting aside cases of rape/incest and health complications, should a woman be able to choose abortion after 20 weeks gestation?”
Discussion held on Citizens Count NH website and Facebook page April 29, 2018
No: 63 citizens were opposed allowing women to choose abortion after twenty weeks.
- “A fetus can survive. If under 20 weeks, then fine. If you haven't figured out you're pregnant by 5 months, too bad. Have the baby and then give it up to someone who really wants a child.”
- “No. Separate DNA means that it’s a different person growing inside of her. The choice was to have sex.”
- “No. I am pro-choice, but a woman at 20 weeks has had plenty of time to make her decision. If she hits the 20 week mark, I think the decision should be out of her hands.”
Yes: 51 citizens were in favor of allowing women to choose abortion after twenty weeks.
- “Yes. It's not okay to dictate to anyone how their body is to be used, pregnant women are not an exception.”
- “This decision is never black and white. Late term abortions are often for tragic reasons. Keep your judgement to yourself.”
- “Yes. What a woman does with her body is between her and her doctor only.”
Other: 15 citizens addressed their comments to related questions and issues.
These included:
- Rape and incest: “I'd like to see a poll about removing "or Incest" from these arguments .... rape is rape whether it's a family member, neighbor, or stranger.”
- Public funding: “You know that no federal money pays for abortions, right? If you’ve been lead to believe it does, someone has been lying to you.”
- Additional exceptions: “Can ‘health concerns’ include psycho-emotional trauma/conditions and underage status?”
*Editor selection of actual participant quotes.