A new poll shows that most Americans want more restrictions on access to abortion. The Pew Research Centre did a poll of 2003 American adults from July 6th to July 19th (margin of error of 3%). It shows that 31% of Americans favour "general access" to abortion (whatever that means-- pretty open word), whereas 20% want it available but with stricter limits; 35% want it banned except for rape, incest and to save the mother's life; and 11% want it banned altogether.
This to me says that the cause of fetal rights is gaining momentum in the United States. A full two-thirds of Americans want more restrictions on abortion. 46% want to ban about 99% of abortions out there-- those that do not involved rape, incest or the life of the mother.
This is not too dissimilar with the situation in Canada. According to an Environics Poll paid by Life Canada, 30% of Canadians believe there should be some protection of unborn children beginning at conception, 19% after three months and 11% after six months of pregnancy. Women more than men are more supportive of fetal protection from conception (34% to 24 %). It's slightly lower than the American numbers, but not markedly so.
I think Canada is ready for more abortion legislation. What is missing is the determination among those who favour fetal rights to fight the good fight. There are lots of pro-lifers around, they've just been cowed into thinking nothing can happen. But the American experience shows otherwise.
Americans got active, and they are slowly chipping away at anti-fetal laws. We can do it too if we just woke up and held our politicians accountable for the situation. There's not stopping us except ourselves. We live in a democracy, and we can spread our views and vote our conscience like any one else. I think the weakness of the pro-life movement is not the numbers, but the apathy.
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