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Abortion became a popular topic in 1973 when the Supreme Court decided that abortion was a Constitutional right during the first trimester of pregnancy in Roe vs. Wade. A 7-2 decision banned 'legislative interference' on first trimester pregnancies. After this decision, abortion has become a topic that many find worthy of support. In 2012, the Democratic Party endorsed pro-choice positions. The Democratic Party "strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay" ("Democratic Party on Abortion"). Even religious groups have spoken in favor of abortion: the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Association all publicly support abortion. .
There are many arguments against abortion, such as, "Maybe the woman should have avoided intercourse if a child was not the goal," "The fetus has rights, too and the mother cannot take those away," and most popular, "Abortion is murder." In response to these arguments, motherhood should never be a 'punishment' for intercourse. Forcing an unwanted child to be born to punish its mother is the ultimate in child abuse. Secondly, most abortions occur within the first trimester when the fetus cannot exist without its mother. By being attached by the placenta and umbilical cord, the fetus is dependent on its mother. Therefore the fetus cannot be regarded as a separate human with rights. Lastly, after in vitro fertilization, the fertilized eggs not used in procedures are routinely thrown out. Does anyone consider this murder? If throwing away unused fertilized eggs is not murder, then how is abortion murder? Finally, in cases of rape or incest, it is cruel to even consider forcing a woman to carry a child who was created pregnant by a deliberately violent act is psychologically harmful to the victim.