For pro-lifers that support bans including exceptions for rape, I posted about this issue recently, so I figured I would copy my argument here:
I'd like to point out that making exceptions for rape doesn't actually protect most rape victims. Rape and sexual assault is by far the most under-reported violent crime. There are literally dozens of reasons why women (and men) rape victims don't report it. It's an extremely sensitive and personal issue with the potential for deep psychological wounds. There's a general consensus that over 50% of rape crimes aren't actually reported and it could be as high as 75 or maybe even worse depending on the society.
In order to make an exception for rape victims, the authorities have to actually know that she's been raped for one thing, so that excludes the majority of rape victims that never actually report being raped. The exception may also require proof that the woman was actually raped which is even harder to obtain in a short time frame. Not to mention legal procedures, but if the woman waits too long to report the rape, that means even less evidence to prove she was actually raped. Meanwhile, all this has to happen in a period of a couple months (the biological clock is ticking ya know?) The longer she has to wait, the more traumatic the abortion becomes for all parties involved.
All in all, it sounds fine and dandy from the pro-life stand point to make exceptions for rape and incest, but it's really hard to actually protect those victims - because most of the time nobody knows what happened except the woman and her assailant.
With a ban with exceptions for rape, literally thousands of rape victims will still fall through the cracks because they are too traumatized to tell anyone what happened.
The only way to protect these silent, traumatized rape victims is to make abortion available to everyone, even if it's limited to the first or second trimesters.
You guys are all missing the big picture. The free market could really help the situation.
But barfbag, haven't you forgotten that an economic entity will only get an abortion if it is in its best interests?
