The procedure known as late term abortion is one of the most controversial aspects of the abortion debate, if not one of the worst medical procedures out there. Every year, thousands of unborn babies are killed after spending weeks in the womb. Some are even killed after they become viable outside of the mother’s body. Currently 44 of the world’s most populous nations have banned late term abortions from happening within their own borders. In the United States, there is no explicit federal law that is bans late term abortions, although 36 states have laws that ban late term abortion. The problem in the U.S. is that many of the laws are written in a way that would infringe on the right to an abortion, as provided by Roe vs. Wade.

The definition of a late term abortion can range from the 20^th to the 27^th week inside the mother. Almost all babies are viable after 27 weeks, and none are before 21 weeks, leaving a margin of error about whether the child could survive. Since abortion will not be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court anytime soon, pro life activists have attempted to put bans on all late term abortions. Democrats in Congress have killed any effort made to curtail abortions due to pressure from liberal women’s groups that feel that they should be able to have an abortion whenever they want.

The majority of American people are strongly opposed to late term abortions because it is tantamount to murder. If a baby can live outside the mother, but instead is aborted, that should be made illegal and treated as murder. The practice is barbaric and should be made criminal. Pro life organizations have been making headway on the issue, but more needs to be done. Since Roe vs. Wade is going to be upheld for the time being, there are other ways to go about reducing abortions. The Supreme Court left open the door for states to pass laws that can put restrictions on abortions, and that is the method that needs to be used. Every state should be lobbied to pass a ban on late term abortions, because this has strong public approval. Once that passes, then the opportunity will be there for other restrictions in the future. A mother had the choice to have an abortion for months, so her mind should be made up. She can have an abortion legally in the previous five months, but there is no need to wait for the baby to grow to live and then kill it. That is the most inhumane aspect about the whole thing. The only exception to the ban should be if the mother’s life is threatened, other than that it should be made illegal. A ban on late term abortions can be conducted peacefully and successfully in each state. Public opinion and facts are on the side of preserving life, instead of recklessly destroying it.