For

If my father’s biological mother had chosen abortion, I would not exist today. I am glad and very grateful that my father was given a chance at life and was put up for adoption rather than abortion. 

Many people today tend to choose abortion as a form of birth control. This is an immature way of thinking. 

Abortion is not a form of birth control and should not be treated as a way out for potential mothers. 

According to the CDC, in 2018 a total of 614,820 abortions were reported. That means 614,820 children’s lives were chosen to be ended. 

An unborn child can obtain a heartbeat as early as three weeks after conception. 

It is morally unjust to allow a child to be aborted when their life has already begun.

Legislation is necessary to induce a decline in such alarming statistics as these. Texas is putting forth maximal effort to minimize abortion in their state. 

Despite the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, which concluded that women should have the ability to have an abortion if they so choose, a Texas law was put into effect on Sept. 1 banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. This is usually at the six-week mark. 

With more cases like this, Roe v. Wade may be in threat of being overturned. 

Louisiana currently has a 20-week limit on abortions, according to Lift Louisiana. This is about five months into a pregnancy. 

At this point, the fetus is fairly developed. Therefore, the Louisiana law is too negligent and legislators should strive to make an impact as Texas has. 

The Texas law is quite an unusual one. It is one of the most strict abortion bans currently. 

It is also not being enforced by the state, but by the people. They are authorized to sue anyone providing or aiding in illegal abortion services.

With abortion becoming criminalized, fewer women and medical professionals will consider it as a feasible option. 

This decision has the potential to save the lives of many children. Lives should be cherished rather than aborted and this law might help people acknowledge this. 

This law could be very beneficial for women unable to have children as well. 

For instance, the decrease in abortions may cause an increase in children available for adoption. 

Families unable to conceive or who are looking to add to their family now have an increased chance of making their wishes come true. 

When considering an abortion, remember to also consider the more beneficial and viable alternatives for your unborn child.

 If wishing to abort a child, focus instead on what good could come from having the child rather than the negative effects it may cause you temporarily. 

Nothing  is worth taking the life of an innocent and unaware child. 

Life is a precious gift and it should be treated as such. 

Against

The Texas abortion ban is despicable and I am proud to stand against it. 

As a pro-choice individual, I believe every woman should have access to a safe and legal abortion. 

Roe v. Wade has been respected since 1973 and has helped many women across America safely receive abortions. 

Reasons why a woman may need an abortion include but aren’t limited to being a victim of rape or incest, being financially unstable, not being ready to raise a child or the child potentially being born into an abusive household or harmful environment.

Despite this, Texas has blocked women from receiving abortions after six weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest. 

However, 85-90% of abortions in Texas happen after six weeks, according to Reuters. 

According to Planned Parenthood, many women aren’t aware of their pregnancy until a few months in. 

A pro-life stance on abortion claims a fetus’s heartbeat is detected at around six weeks of pregnancy. 

According to state representative and former critical care nurse Donna Howard, the “heartbeat” is an electrically induced flickering of fetal tissue and an embryo does not have a heart at six weeks’ gestation.  

Having discussed reproductive rights with pro-life people, I’ve learned many pro-lifers’ beliefs are entirely faith-fueled. 

As someone who believes in the separation of church and state, I find this unsatisfactory.

Religion should not influence laws.

 Some argue that adoption is an option. That is true, but we must examine the flaws within the foster care system. 

According to Focus for Health, children in foster care are four times more likely to be sexually abused. 

Children in group homes are 28 times more likely to be abused. 

Children in foster care are also often homeless by the time they’re 18 years old.   

Instead of vilifying women who receive abortions, why not blame rapists and advocate for preventive measures like accessible contraceptives and sex education?

The $10,000 that will be rewarded to anyone who reports a woman for having an abortion after six weeks promotes a mob mentality and modern day witch hunt. 

This is extremely harmful to women and young girls. At times, minors even need abortions. 

Do you believe forcing a woman or child to give birth morally trumps the right to choose, especially when there are women and children whose bodies cannot handle the trauma of childbirth, resulting in death? 

Banning abortions will not stop them, similar to how banning guns will not stop crime. 

The abortion ban only makes women suffer more, forcing them to consider unsafe methods which could be fatal. 

This is a war on women, and we can’t stop fighting for our rights.