I grew up with the understanding that abortion was just another option people had when a condom broke or the pill didn’t work, without really putting any though to it.  I now firmly believe ANY abortion after 20ish weeks is murdering an unborn child.  Viability at 25+ weeks is now so good that terminating a pregnancy voluntarily removes the life from an infant that could be delivered and cared for by adoptive parents. 

My personal view is even after 10-12 weeks an abortion is a hard sell.  Enough of the brain, heart and other systems have formed to make it an ambiguous argument as to a sentient life being formed. 

The problem with the whole abortion issue is the way the parties are defining the only two viable positions.  Pro-life or pro-choice.  Where pro-life means ZERO abortions and pro-choice means any where, any time for any reason.  This forces candidates in the middle to align into basically 50/50 split on the subject.  You get stances like “I’m pro-choice” or “I support the woman’s right to choose” or “I support the law as written” BUT!!!! I personally oppose abortion.

I think the break down really 3 positions.  To the first two (typically religiously held zero abortion and typically liberal anytime anywhere) and a third (most of moderate/realistic America) that is: Abortions should be legal up to X point in time and then illegal.  While people can debate exactly what the X point in time should be, it centers around what is going on inside the womb.  Some would argue brain and heart (week 10-12 first trimester).  Some would argue any chance of viability (currently week 21.4).  Some would argue reasonable viability (week 24-26 second trimester). 

In looking ahead, I see a day where third trimester abortions are illegal in all but the most rare circumstances.  The standard political clap trap of “except for rape, incest or life of the mother” just doesn’t pass the smell test anymore. 

Rape:  If you have carried a fetus to 27 weeks already after a rape and haven’t made the decision to end the pregnancy, its just plain wrong.  Carry to term, induce or have a c-section and let a loving family have the child.

Incest:  Ditto above.  Even in incest, pregnancies the rate of defect aren’t prohibitively high and vary in degree.  Baring an actual diagnosis of serious genetic issues, an abortion based on chance for defect alone should be decided far sooner.

Life of Mother:  While a nice platitude, has been perverted to health of mother and any thing from a potentially fatal clot to a diagnosis of depression can be used as reason to end a child’s life. 

Roe vs. Wade:  Bad law.  Should be overturned.  States should regulate and/or the congress and senate should write a law based on the acceptability of the people they represent.  I dare say it would look a lot closer to my views of available, but limited.