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MOST AMERICANS OPPOSE MOST ABORTIONS
Recent public opinion polls continue to show that a solid majority of Americans oppose the reasons for which the vast majority of abortions are performed. In addition, the American public grows increasingly pro-life, which bodes well for the future. It is not surprising, then, that when pro-abortionists try to claim that the public supports the Supreme Court's 1973 abortion decisions they carefully avoid specifying what the High Court actually authorized; abortion on demand throughout pregnancy. Instead they allude to the tiny percentage of abortions that are performed because the mother's life is at risk or because of rape and incest. But any poll that asks in even general terms about the circumstances under which the public would support abortion finds overwhelming opposition to the vast majority of the abortions allowed by the '73 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions.

In recognition of this public opposition, abortion providers rarely provide data on the reasons women have abortions. A brand new study by the Alan Guttmacher Institue, an affliate of Planned Parenthood shows that little has changed since 1973. Abortions of healthy babies by healthy mothers account for over 92% of the estimated 1.3 million abortions done yearly.

One of the most common arguments for keeping abortion legal is that there are so many women that are pregnant by rape, and if we don't allow them the opportunity to have an abortion, their life will be forever ruined. Did you notice how many women are having abortions because of rape? Take another look. It's not even 1%. It's less then one half of a percent! That's because women who are raped very rarely get pregnant. To read more about the other reasons abortion is the wrong decision in rape and incest cases, read "Rape and Incest... Is Abortion Ever Okay?"

Many polls are published showing a majority of Americans are pro-choice. While it may be true that a majority of Americans consider themselves to be "pro-choice," it is also true that most of them believe abortion as another form of birth control is wrong. A Gallup Poll from June 26, 2005 showed that 75% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all cases or in the exception of rape/incest or to save the life of the mother. An ectopic pregnancy is the only case where a woman's life is in danger from a pregnancy. Those who cited medical reasons often appear to have been stating their own opinions (fear that drug or alcohol use may have harmed the baby, inability to handle morning sickness, etc.) rather than reporting any formal diagnosis from a doctor. Victims of incest typically want to be pregnant as it exposes the sin that lead to her pregnancy.

Polls continue to find little support for the majority of abortions. Two National polls, Gallup in June 2005 and CBS/New York Times in June 2005, found almost identical results: 70 and 75 percent, respectively, believed that abortion should never be allowed or allowed only in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. Only 24 and 28 percent, respectively, thought abortion should always be legal or allowed for other reasons.

Polls also show that public opposition to abortion is increasing. A January 2003 Gallup poll found a seven percent drop among those who thought abortion should be legal under any circumstance: 24 percent in 2003, down from 31 percent in 1992. The November 2002 Zogby poll found those who had become less in favor of abortion outnumber those who had grown more in favor by almost a 2-1 margin: 22 percent were less in favor of abortion than they were 10 years ago; only 11 percent were more in favor of abortion. And in a Gallup Poll released in early May 2003, 53 percent said abortion was morally wrong as compared to 37 percent who said it was morally acceptable.

Contrary to popular impression, young people, those 18-29, are strongly pro-life. A November 2003 Zogby poll showed that only 26 percent said that abortion is "morally acceptable" compared to 72 percent who said abortion is "morally wrong."

The American public also favors having their pro-life views backed up through legislation. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll in January 2003 found overwhelming support for several major pro-life legislative initiatives.