The abortion rates in the United States since Roe vs. Wade peaked in 1990 with 1.6 million abortions. In 2005 the numbers dropped to 1.2 million which was the lowest since 1990. During the 21st century the number of new contraceptives that have been created has also increased. Contraceptives such as condoms, birth control pills, and devices such as IUDs have all been proven as effective birth control methods. However, recently many pharmacists have been refusing refilling prescriptions for contraceptives. This refusal isn't because of medical or professional concerns, but it is because of personal beliefs. Many times these pharmacists do not allow contraceptives to be sold because they believe that contraceptives promote promiscuity, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and other moral problems in society.This view about contraceptives also parallels the views held by most pro-life supporters. Because of religious and moral views, the pro-life community believes that contraceptives promote the idea of teenagers being sexually active and the prevention of natural reproduction. On the other side of the spectrum, the average pro-choice supporter accepts contraceptives. These supporters are not happy with the pharmacies that are refusing to sell contraceptives. They believe that personal beliefs should not be mixed with professional duties.
Anti-contraceptive supporters, that are also pro-life, should step-back and think about what contraceptives are made for. They prevent unwanted pregnancies. If pro-life supporters want to keep the rate of abortions lower, they need to compromise with the pro-choice supporters and accept contraceptives. Even though they believe it promotes promiscuity, people will have sex anyways. This way at least those people will not have unwanted pregnancies that will lead to abortions. It does not make sense that the pro-life supporters do not promote birth control methods that are available to women that do not want to become pregnant. Promoting safe sexual activity should be a fair compromise for "saving a life."
Sources:
<http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/15>
<http://guttmacher.org/media/nr/2008/01/17/index.html>
<http://www.nwlc.org/details.cfm?id=2185§ion=health>
That does make sense...why prevent people from contraceptives if in the long run it may cause an abortion. And I do agree, even if contraceptives are banned, people would still go on having sex because it is such a big part of today's society, that people just have to have sex. In the end, pro-life hopefully will begin to realize that contraceptives are needed to help prevent abortions.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. It is flat-out foolish to refuse to refill contraceptive use. In today's Western society, sex is a common part of most people's lives and cannot be stopped solely by silly pharmacists who believe that the trend of promiscuous sex would cease simply because they won't sell contraceptives. "They believe that personal beliefs should not be mixed with professional duties." Exactly, and if they do their job, perhaps abortion will decline because of it.
ReplyDeleteTo Race Reformer and Bud's Wiser, I'm glad that other people agree with this idea. I am a pro-life supporter, but I also encourage the use of contraceptives. It is foolish to think that people won't have sex just because they can't be supplied with contraceptives. Some people use abortion as a birth control, so if they go pregnant then that's the road they would turn to.
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