Women who are otherwise responsible can become pregnant but out of no fault of their own. Keeping abortion legal ensures that all women have the right to determine their own destiny; no woman should be forced to carry a child who was actively trying to prevent pregnancy in the first place. Even if a woman was trying to become pregnant she might need to get an abortion in cases in which doctors revealed serious birth defects. To prevent unwanted physical and emotional strain not just on the mother but on the father, the extended family, and the community, abortions should be allowed in extreme cases.

The vast majority -- at least 98% -- of all abortions performed in the United States are for women who elect to have them not for physical or mental health purposes or to terminate a pregnancy known to contain genetic defects or birth defects (Johnston)....
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