A science-based abortion policy is impossible

What would happen if we followed Europe’s lead and banned abortion after the first trimester? Well, roughly 1.2 million abortions occur annually in the U.S. According to Guttmacher, 88 percent (1.06 million) of those occur within the first 12 weeks. That means, potentially, 140,000 more children would be born each year.

Is that really such a horrible thing? Does that justify the uproar coming from the pro-choice movement about the supposed conservative assault on women’s bodies? It definitely doesn’t sound like it.

Unfortunately, abortion will probably be a hotly debated topic for decades to come. But, we should let data, science (when possible) and reality guide the debate, not demagoguery. Such a discussion is 40 years overdue.