Leftists may glorify abortion, but the rest of the country is not buying the propaganda. A new U.S. government report found that abortion rates have plummeted to a historic low. With providers shutting down, effective contraception, and low pregnancy rates, the number of terminated pregnancies in the U.S. continues to tumble.
Abortion remains to be one of the most contentious issues in the U.S. today. To condense the discussion, the left wants abortions for all, the right doesn’t want abortions for anyone, and libertarians want the abortion debate left to the states.
One thing is for sure: The majority of Americans don’t have them. And that may be an incredible thing for pro-life activists and conservative lawmakers who have fought against the practice for many years.
Abortion Rates Crash to Historic Lows
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), abortion numbers slumped in 2014, falling to their lowest levels since 1971, two years before nationwide legalization.
Analyzing data from all 50 states, the CDC found that the national abortion rate dipped by 2% between 2013 and 2014. In 2014, a total of 652,639 abortions were completed; with a rate of 186 abortions per 1,000 live births and a ratio of 12.1 abortions per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44.
The report discovered that 59% of women moving forward with the procedure were in their 20s, and about one-third were in their 30s. Moreover, 91.5% of the abortions happened prior to the 13th week – just 1.3% of abortions happened after the 21st week.
CDC wrote:
“Following nationwide legalization of abortion in 1973, the total number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions increased rapidly, reaching the highest levels in the 1980s before decreasing at a slow yet steady pace. Nonetheless, throughout the years, the incidence of abortion has varied considerably across subpopulations and remains higher in some demographic groups than others.”
The authors listed the decrease in pregnancies, a smaller number of abortion clinics, and more effective contraception as some of the primary contributors to falling abortion rates.
Researchers averred that unintended pregnancy is the most significant factor in seeking an abortion. With greater access to successful contraception, such as the IUD coil and the birth control pill, there has been a reduction in these types of pregnancies. Researchers found this interesting because there was an increase in adolescent sexual activity during the study period.
A drop in abortions isn’t necessarily a new trend. Over the last decade, rates have been gradually declining as pro-life activists and organizations have helped pass pro-life laws, establish pregnancy resource centers, and assist families with information and financial aid to give their unborn children life. They have also been making gains in the information war against the anti-life crowd.
Has Abortion Become a Virtue?
For nearly 40 years, abortion has been a vital issue for the left. But while it was once considered a health matter, abortion has morphed into a virtuous endeavor – a celebrated cause for feminists to rejoice.
Babies are primarily killed out of convenience. The mother cannot care for the child or wants to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Before a protester starts shouting about rape and incest, it should be noted that fewer than 1% of all abortions occur because of these heinous acts.
Every year, taxpayers are forced to give about $500 million to Planned Parenthood, which performs roughly 300,000 abortions annually. Each time a politician pledges to slash funding for the institution, leftists shriek and espouse how great it is to have an abortion. They start raising money for Planned Parenthood or launch social media campaigns like #ShoutYourAbortion.
The pro-abortion movement has amplified in the age of President Donald Trump, too.
Actress Alyssa Milano regularly posts pro-abortion tweets. Lena Dunham stated last year that she wished she had an abortion. And thespian Martha Plimpton declared that her “first abortion was the best one.”
Who can forget about the disgusting mock abortion on the Virgin Mary during International Women’s Day earlier this year?
Whether it is through conservative activism or medical advancements – or just plain dignity – abortion figures are fortunately sliding, and the latest CDC research has confirmed this. Regardless of the gains made in the pro-life arena, the country remains divided on the topic. However, the fight persists thanks to prominent individuals like Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder, and well-regarded entities like the National Right to Live. Could abortion soon enter the dustbins of U.S. history?
What do you think about the CDC report? Let us know in the comments section!
