Whenever people learn that a person is pro-choice they seem to hear “I’m a fetus killer” or “I support and encourage women to abort their babies.” The notion that any person who is pro-choice is also pro-abortion is not only misleading, but in my case, and many others, the assumption is quite inaccurate. Now, I must admit that growing up I considered myself pro-life for many reasons, then I educated myself a little more on the topic and as a result slightly changed my views.

The pro-life vs. pro-choice debate has been a topic since long before my 22 years on this earth. “Are you for abortion or against abortion?” is the overly simplified question of the debate that immediately drove me to the pro-life side of the argument as a small child who had just learned the definition of abortion. “Why would anybody want to kill a baby?” Even when I was highly upset as a four year old whose mother just stripped the “baby” title from me with my little brother (and then three more children over the next four years) I didn’t think that any baby deserved to be aborted. I still feel like that way today. I’m not an advocate or supporter of abortion, but I’m not pro-life.

Why the change from pro-life to pro-choice? First, I learned that pro-choice is an advocation of legalized abortion. In reality, not all women, for one reason or another, will want to carry and/or raise a child that she and a partner conceived, thus, many people will still “illegally abort” the fetus in dangerous and unconventional methods. I would rather not list said methods, but they can lead to more healthy risks and issues across the country. Safety should always be a priority for people; to take away safe medical procedures and add risks of harm to women would be irresponsible of our government. The fight to outlaw such procedures is also selfish of others who are only considerate to their own feelings or beliefs over others. I think that both parties, the people and the government, should consider others, consider women, and the different paths, obstacles, feelings, situations, etc. before they make arguments and laws that ultimately make decisions for others, that make decisions for all women.

I also decided to view the issue from a male perspective. As a man, I don’t have to worry about getting pregnant or the process and stages that come with pregnancy. Even if there is some medical breakthrough or evolution of the human species when men can get pregnant I still don’t think I’d want to go through the process. I think both pregnancy and childbirth are beautiful, but also painful and uncomfortable and annoying and unpredictable as described by some women in my family who have experienced pregnancy. (Thanks mom for the nine month pre-game). As a person who never has to experience pregnancy or face the decision to deliver or abort my baby, I don’t feel that I should advocate to strip that right from those who do face this decision. The only instance where I, or any man, should have a valid voice in the decision is if I’m to assume a direct role in the child’s life (i.e. help conceive and raise the child). In any other case, the most I can or should offer is advice or counsel if asked. Otherwise, my own morals or beliefs should not become inflicted upon or insinuated towards any woman (or family) and the decision of what they do with their embryo.

Many people approach this argument from a religious stance. I was raised as a Baptist so the thought of abortion wreaked an alarm of moral violation in my household. Just because my family believes one thing doesn’t mean that those ideals should be forced on everyone else. I bring this up because many religious groups, Christians for example, protest and push for pro-life laws because it violates their religious beliefs which “America was built on” as quoted by a peer with whom I’ve recently discussed the topic. While Christian ideals are a part of America’s foundation, the first amendment also grants freedom of religion, or better phrased “separation of church and state.” The purpose of the statement coined by Thomas Jefferson is to prohibit laws that cater to any specific religion or restrict others from practicing religions of their choice. To write laws that prohibit the decisions of others based off of the ideals, morals, or religious beliefs of others is at least a contradiction or violation of the first amendment.

I think that my stance comes down to the basic ideals of the United States of America. We all have the freedom to make our own decisions. We have the freedom to do what we want with our lives, with our bodies and to our bodies. As long as we don’t cause harm to any (external) person (including yourself) or thing or break the law then we should be free to do as we please. Healthy procedures to help with decisions that we make, whether others agree with them or not, should be legal and provided in medical facilities. There aren’t any laws on other additions to or removal from our bodies, specifically none on surgical or medical procedures. There are only regulations and advice/counseling on decisions at the discretion of professionals in the field to ensure a higher level of health and safety. Still, we are free to make our own decisions and still use our own discretion. I feel that women deserve to have the same rights with their pregnancy.

I love children. I am a proud brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, and hopefully in the future, father. I love to see pregnant women turn into mothers. Holding a newborn baby is one of my favorite feelings. To see babies learn to communicate and adapt turn my insides mushy. When children play and grow and learn I’m amazed and excited to have my own. I can’t imagine the rewarding experience of parenthood. For these reasons and more I am anti-abortion. I am anti-abortion because that is my choice, and I am pro-choice because everyone deserves that choice.