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I feel that your law is just. Although it may not be used to the word of the law, its letter seems just and right. The United States' laws might gain a lesson from the British on this topic.
David Wofford, USA

I am personally against abortion. However, I do not believe that the line between the morals of the state and the morals of the individual should be drawn here. Therefore such laws should be relaxed.
Besides, it is far from conclusive who should decide the morals of the state. Until this issue is addressed to give all people equal say, any other arguements about the morality of abortion law should be pushed into the background.
E.J Thompson, USA

Abortion should be restricted except in cases wherein the Mother's life is actually in danger. The United States has lost millions of children for the sake of convenience, and our laws need to be tightened. We, in the States, are guilty of infanticide. Not a virtue to be emulated.
Elizabeth Browning, USA

The Abortion Debate is about a woman's right to choose what's best for her - her right to be able to make decisions without the State, the Courts or religion dictating to her what she can and cannot do - as if she were a six year old. Anti-abortion believers should realise that women will not go out en masse and have this very traumatic procedure just because the laws are relaxed so that women are treated like adults for a change.
Sheila Nathan, USA

I don't think that the adoption option is used enough here. Perhaps with the tougher legisation (as it exists) and a public awareness campaign, this problem could be addressed.
On the other hand, which is more cruel, forcing a child to grow up in a home in which (s)he is unloved and unwanted, or aborting the pregnancy?
Eric Thompson, USA

We have legislation which was carefully considered. It is difficult to see how proper safeguards for the unborn child could be enforced if abortion becomes available on demand.
Sheila McKean, UK

You should relax abortion laws once you get comfortable with the idea of killing innocent people.
Douglas Stevens, USA

The primary focus of this debate needs to shift from the curbing of women's rights over their bodies to seeking to building a social structure which will render the abortion laws obsolete.
If we can develop into a society where bringing unplanned children into the world isn't a personal disaster, then far fewer women will feel the need to take that option. However, the right itself should not be legislated away.
Fiona Murphy, UK

Change the law to read "demonstrable risk to the mother's health" and insist on parents considering marriage, financial support and adoption before abortion.
John Bell, UK

If we believe that people can make the judgement for themselves whether a foetus in the womb is a human being or not (i.e. whether abortion is 'murder' or not) then of course abortion laws should be relaxed - it is ridiculous to only let doctors allow abortion on the grounds of a risk to mental/physical health (as is current in the UK). We need to trust people to make their own decisions.
Rupert Smith, UK

Abortion law shouldn't be relaxed, quite the opposite. Perhaps though it's time to look at peoples' attitude toward sex and self-respect. The use of emotive words like 'murder' is not at all helpful to opening peoples' minds to a genuine examination of the morality and ethics of the situation.
In our society, sex is constantly pedalled as a stand alone event with no strings, as opposed to the opening event of a new creation.
Real progress in the abortion debate will not be made until people are presented with the facts in the light of human morality, instead of provocative soundbites aimed for a specific emotional response.
B. Prendergast, UK

Any further relaxing of these laws just encourages younger people to have sex without having to worry about the consequences.
Kevin Osborne, UK

I think abortion on demand should be every woman's right. I think it's wrong of those people who have not been through an unwanted pregnancy to sit in judgement on those who have.
I would say there should be an increase in options that can be presented to women instead of abortion, such as increased counselling, adoption, and the like. We don't want to see firebombings of abortions clinics, doctors being shot which is happening in America. Freedom of choice for the individual is the ultimate answer.
Anne Wright, UK

I feel that both sides of the abortion coin need to be advised to any woman wanting an abortion. At the moment it is too easy and the problems that can arise after the event are not, on the whole discussed with the women. I wish to see this changed.
Phil Paige, UK

Abortion if permitted at all, should only be allowed very early in the pregnancy. Late-term abortions should not be allowed.
J. R Spike, USA

I think abortion should only be granted in the case of rape. Both partners should be responsible for their actions.
Paul, London, England

I find the whole discussion rather worrying. It seems to be dominated by: a) Religious groups who seem to feel that it is their duty to impose their beliefs on other people who do not subscribe to their doctrines. b) Men.
I feel that it is the right of the individual carrying the child to make up her own mind. It is a traumatic decision to make, and having to seek the "approval" of (probably) two men who will not have to "live out" the consequences of their decisions is not particularly helpful. There is also the potential problem that the doctor(s) involved may be hostile to abortion.
In the case of young women who have no other children, I can see a case for counselling (which GP's cannot effectively do due to workload). However in the case of "mature" women who already have children (or have decided against having children) there is no possible argument for having someone else's views imposed upon you.
I'm a man who (voluntarily) gave up work to look after my children, so I'm well aware of the effects that childcare has on an individual. Cries of "Murder" don't help anyone, and God knows the last thing this country (or the world) needs is an explosion of unwanted children.
John Naismith, UK

Abortion does have a place in our society and should, in my opinion, remain legal. However, the use of abortion as a form of birth control because someone has 'forgotten' to take very readily available precauctions is offensive and unjustifiable.
Eric Alter, England

It's rather odd that so many supporters of abortion will speak of a "mother's right" to abort an unborn child. Motherhood is an insititution reserved for people who want to, and have allowed themselves to give birth, love and raise a child - quite in contrast to those who would have rather have nothing to do with it.
Susan D'Souza, USA

A lot has been said for and against abortion from people coming from nearly all walks of life. The way I see it, it is a basic human right dealing with choice. Whatever the situation may be, it is the right of the woman to either terminate the pregnancy or to carry it.
The role I see society playing is to provide education, guidance and facilitation from both sides of the spectrum and then leave it to the individual to come to a decision. What ever the decision may be, that particular individual will have to live with it and perhaps any close friend(s) & partner.
One must not trivalise the issue. It is a difficult choice at a time when the woman is perhaps most vulnerable. Why are we bent upon further complicating a delicate situation. Surely, support & comfort is needed not badgering & demonstrations!
Mohammed Hassan Qazilbash, Pakistan

Abortion is the pre-meditated, brutal and bloody killing of an unborn child. It is murder. No civilized country tolerates it. It should be outlawed. Not only is an innocent baby killed, but the mother of the child later in life regrets and suffers for a youthful, selfish, "choice".
Joe Giardina, USA

This is an issue which should be left for a woman to decide. Men should not be allowed to dictate an opinion which impinges on a woman's right to take control of her own body.
Brenda, Canada

First I consider these two principles: (1) Mr Dobson is (rightly) entitled to his opinion and to say it. (2) However laws of the land - especially moral laws - should be based on reasoning and fact, not opinion.
The facts of abortion should cause anyone shudder at the thought of abortion being made easier than it currently is. I agree that some circumstances require the need of abortion. But that "need" must never be replaced by anyone's personal preference, whether it is Mr Dobson, or more usually the mother to be.
In this situation I am angry that the media has taken a mere man's humble (and possibly wrong) opinion and blown it out of proportion.
John G Dargie, UK

It is frightening when people talk of pregnancy as an inconvenience, are we saying we want freedom without responsibility?
David Todd, UK

Abortion should never be allowed in any case for whatever reason during any stage of any pregnancy, whether the life of the woman is at stake or not. Abortion is a brutal crime and those conspiring to abort unborn children should be sentenced to life imprisonment without the remote possibility of parole. Women having abortions are already up for excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church, and correctly so.
Gladden Pappin, USA

There would be less need for abortions if so called "Christians" who preach about the sanctity of life and argue strongly against abortion attached less social stigma to those who become pregnant when very young or outside of marriage. If more support and less condemnation were available for women in these circumstances, they would not feel obliged to have an abortion in order to avoid becoming a social outcast.
Also, is the Government aiming a 'double whammy' at single mothers? It seems to be making their lives more difficult, yet making abortion easier. Is there a connection?
Richard Gregory, UK

Certainly not!
I am not a moralist and my Christian beliefs apart. I totally disagreed with the notion that we can do whatever we like with what we see as our body.
Andrew Finni, UK

It never ceases to amaze me how peoples' minds work. The prevailing attitude of our society is "me, me, me" or "I will do as I damn well please". The first time they get pregnant (or in some other predicament), they cry "poor me, this is unfair!" It appears that nobody wants to recognize that they are accountable for what they do, that being an adult means that each of us must bear the consequences of our deeds.
The recent stories in Delaware and the Midwest about teens killing their babies during birth and throwing them away like trash is clearly an indication of how the pro-abortion and the new morality have helped to debase and devalue human life and human dignity. Many of the same people who support abortion think it's a tragedy to shoot a deer or kill a dolphin. Misplaced priorities! If you want to play, be prepared to pay! Not a single person has ever died because they did not have sex. The world needs more God!
Barbara J. Ignas, USA

In my view an unborn foetus does not become a life until it is born and has experienced life outside the womb. To force mothers to obtain two signatures from doctors in order to get permission for an abortion is ludicrous and in my opinion is a violation of the mothers human rights.I'm not saying this should be treated as a common ailment but surely it is the mother's decision?
Daniel Smith, UK

Human life is sacrosanct, and the more defenceless, the greater an individuals right to protection. Nobody has the right to take a life.
Mary Evans, England

At the core of the abortion debate is that of life. If abortion was universally accepted as murder it would cease being a legally viable option. Even accepting that the unborn child is just a "foetus" or a "mass," does not take away from the fact that it is murder.
All one needs to do is look at this question with a bit of logic. Say that this is a foetus. If one has an abortion, it terminates the pregnancy; ends the nine-month cycle. An abortion ensures that the foetus will not grow to become a child. What must it be called when such growth is ended? Murder.
A foetus is not without life if only by virtue of the fact that it continues to grow and mature. Therefore, abortion is murder as it ends the growth, maturity and life of the foetus. To ingore this fact is to ignore the Truth. But Truth is simply unalterable.
Ryan Martin, USA

How did we square slavery with our consciences? Answer: by not considering slaves to be human. How do we accept the killing of the unborn? Answer: by pretending that they are not human.
Neil Brett, England

Abortion should not be allowed in a 'mental health' situation. Nobody's life should be taken because someone else claims that their mental health is at risk. This is an absolute farcical situation whereby somebody's life is viewed as an inconvienience and hence done away with. No person should have the right to take a life in this way, particularly since unborn children are the most defenceless members of our society. A more unjust situation is hard to imagine.
I think its absolutely appalling that this situation exists in a so called 'civilised' society. If the fundamental right to life cannot be protected by the government then how can their efforts to combat other social injustices be taken seriously. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Brian Doyle, Northern Ireland

This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue. The more politicians and pressure groups (and I include the churches in this) get involved in issues of this nature the more of a mess they become. Decisions of the enormity of abortion MUST be left to individuals to decide for themselves.
There is no way I would consider participating in an abortion decision except under the most extreme of circumstances. Others have to have the freedom to make their own minds up.
Paul Harper, England

Abortion is already used as a form of contraception. We already live in a society where the word NO is meaningless, would it not be more productive to educate people into taking responsibility for their actions instead of providing get out clauses?
Penny Mellor, Wales

It is time that the government takes a lead on this issue. They must take the head out of the quagmire and dicide on principle, facing down opponents if necessary. Religious extremism in the USA or closer to home, Ireland should not be transported into the UK. All women should have the right to choose. It is not for others to take that right from them.
Martin McEvoy, UK

I think present laws are about right but doubt if they are implemented fairly.
It seems an articulate middle class woman can often get what amounts to abortion on demand which is not what the law originally envisaged and is (in my opinion) not justified.
Mostyn Kearle, United Kingdom

No abortion laws can ever be just. They have to deal with one of the most emotive issues that challenges modern society, and as such are bound to fail. Abortion laws can never be just because they try to put legal boundaries on what is an extremely personal issue.
Charlie Freeman, Bolton, UK

Britain does not need to change its abortion laws. It needs to start afresh and take into account the many advances in science that now show that their is no such thing as foetal tissue, only humans.
Roy Campbell, USA (formerly Northern Ireland)

Whether you are a doctor, scientist, religious or atheist, it cannot be denied that abortion is the taking of a life. We can argue about what to call that life: foetus, baby, mass of tissue, but what can't be questioned is that it destroys a living thing. If we reduce granting or taking life to moral subjectivity and a matter of conscience, then what value is attached to life? If a pregnancy does not serve a purpose, need or is not wanted, just discard it like common trash. What separates this from the killing in Africa, Algeria, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Mexico.....?
Tom Tornabene, USA

The right of privacy is essential in a democracy. Women's bodies do not belong to the state. Abortion is, and should be, a private matter.
Bob Puharic, USA

Life is too special to be chucked away. we should not be acting as God.
G.Haggett, UK

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