If abortion is outlawed, should women that smoke and drink when pregnant be cons

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   IDONOposted 11 years ago

   If abortion is outlawed, should women that smoke and drink when pregnant be considered criminals?
   
   Anti-abortion activists want the legal choice of a woman to have an abortion taken away. I don't understand how people want to make that choice illegal but the legal choice of a pregnant woman smoking a cigarette or drinking alcohol remain the same. Should cigarettes and alcohol be illegal too? Or criminalized? From what I've heard and read, abortion sounds much more humane. Or is this another case of "We want change as long as it doesn't affect us"
        I'm a guy and I respect choice. My morals are what I face God with. Not yours.

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   Garifaliaposted 11 years ago

   Abortion was illegal while I was growing up in the States. Years later it was made legal as rape victims increased as well as defects in the embryo. Yes, a woman should have the right to choose. Although abortion is not humane, it cannot be illegal because women will find ways to do it anyway. Everything that is addictive and harmful should be illegal, but then some people are addicted to sex. Can't very well make that illegal, hugh?
   Women who smoke and drink when pregnant are criminals and they should be fined for any babies born less than healthy. Embryos have no say while they're in the womb so why not find a way to protect them? Think about the babies born addicted to narcotics because of their irresponsible mothers.
   If you deem it worth it, help me out with your last comment. "My morals are what I face God with. Not yours." Why did you feel the need to write that? You stated nothing immoral.

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      IDONOposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Garafalia.  Morals are set between an individual and God. No one has the right to tell you or me what those should be..I'm sticking up for all moral issues. And defending my own. In this case, no one's morals should dictate your right to choose.

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      Garifaliaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the clarification and you're right of course, especially when your conduct is such.

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   fpherj48posted 11 years ago

   Without addressing abortion in any way......I merely wanted to respond to your question about possible hazardous habits of pregnant women........Since it is an absolute, medical and factual reality that both smoking and drinking alcohol are seriously injurious to the unborn child, it stands to reason and reeks of common sense that women who do one or both, are instantly guilty of child abuse.  The last time I checked...child abuse of any type or degree is a criminal act.
   While they may not be apprehended and/or arrested and charged.....therefore evade being labeled a "criminal,"  I would certainly label them damned stupid and totally selfish...............

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      IDONOposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with your answer. It kind of re-enforces my thoughts. If cigs and booze are legal, but use is considered poor judgement, shouldn't abortion be treated the same way? Seems like it should be all or nothing.

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   Charluposted 11 years ago

   Ah, a very tough question for me and the reason is if they have an addiction problem (which obviously most do if they're consuming while pregnant) then would they be offered help to quit. 
   
   Then what about the ones that don't find out they're pregnant until they are 4 or 5 months and did both without realizing there was an issue until finding out they were pregnant. It happens all the time so should they be charged if they had no knowledge just on chance?
   
   I think most women who smoke, drink, do drugs, etc. and submit their child to the unbelievable consequences are usually young, and babies having babies. I also think if they began prosecuting those that knowing did subject their child, there would be a whole lot less of it happening and possibly give both mother and child a new start in life.
   
   I have numerous mixed emotions and feelings on this and abortion as I believe a woman has a choice, especially rape and incest victims, and even sometimes just because it is a necessary medical procedure.  What I don't think it should be used for is a form of birth control.  I had a friend in southern Fl that worked in a clinic and when she told me of the number of women who had 4 and 5 abortions just because they didn't want to be pregnant I was sickened.
   
   Great question

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      IDONOposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ignorance is no  excuse. Of the law, not knowing youare pregnant at 5 months, (you are kidding) or unprotected sex. Using cigs, drugs and alcohol are all poor decisions. But you still have that right to choose. Abortion should be no different. Thanks

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   Justsilvieposted 11 years ago

   I keep repeating, you cannot outlaw abortion. You can only make it a criminal act. Women have decided when they can have a child since the beginning of the human race, the only thing that has changed is the method. In the US the only choice that will change is… will it be a safe medical procedure or done in another country if you can afford it or a back alley if you can’t.
   
   Even though drugs, smoking, and alcohol may harm a fetus and to partake is a selfish disregard for your baby’s life it is most often done because of ignorance not intention. You cannot Legislate this type of behavior unless you want to fill up the overcrowded court and prison system. And since most prisons in the US do not rehabilitate but are schools for criminals what would what would we really gain as a society?
   
   We need more education (sex education, parenting classes?) and support for women who do decide to carry out a pregnancy in less than perfect situations. We need to help, not condemn and maybe really take serious the adage that “it takes a village to raise a child”.

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      IDONOposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Women have decided when since the beginning but are still ignorant to the effects of poor habits? If I were a woman, I wouldn't like that response. Education is good. But the same people that say abortion is immoral, will say sex ed at school is too.

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   Mazzy Boleroposted 11 years ago

   I see what you are saying. However, they are not quite the same thing.  Abortion is something the state has to positively allow, whereas smoking is something they would have to legislate to stop.
   
   When it comes to smoking, some women seem to be in denial.  One pregnant woman said to me, "Well, my mother smoked through all her pregnancies and it didn't do us any harm..." and gestured to her scrawny, dumb, sickly siblings, before coughing violently and taking medication for asthma.  Addicts are not logical when it comes to their addiction and will do the most appalling things and excuse them to themselves.  While you could make it illegal, it's virtually impossible to police what people do in their own home. 
   
   I guess you would also have to ban drinking alcohol, taking certain proprietory medications, eating junk food, etc. These are lifestyle choices which are not good for the unborn child, but very difficult to legislate against.
   
   I don't think it's actually comparing like with like. But, while abortion is regrettable, there are situations where it may be the best thing.  Banning it completely is probably not a realistic option.

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