Today, abortion is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States. Yet the availability of abortions to American women remains one of the most contentious issues within American society. This paper will discuss the political, legal and social issues related to abortions in America. The discussion will include an analysis of the problems created by abortion clinic protests, and the killings of physicians who perform abortions as well as the murders of other abortion services personnel. This paper will show that many conservative Republican leaders, Catholic Church members, and other right-wing political activists are so involved in the pro-life movement that even the word "abortion" has become unmentionable (Colson, 1995, p. 64) and that some pro-life supporters have resorted to violent acts in an effort to oppose supporters of the pro-choice movement in America. The paper will also propose alternatives to the violence acts against pro-choice supporters which have recently increased so dramatically.
Studies indicate that a wide gap exists between the language of public debate over abortions, and that of private decision making about abortions and that the language of private decision making reflects a moral standard which is frequently used by women but is virtually ignored in public debate. Those studies also reveal that women who take charge of their own decisions cope better with the emotional aftermath, whether their decision is for abortion or for childbirth (Patterson, 1995, p. 677).
The pro-choice supporters argue that legal abortion protects both the health and the quality of life of women. The "pro-choicers" point out that, in places where abortion is illegal, such as Ireland or Romania under the Ceausescu regime, women have suffered health problems from continuous pregnancy and childbirth, as well as injury from unsafe and illegal abortion. Pro-choice activists also argue that unwa...