Americans Want Late-Term Abortions Banned, Back Bill to Stop Them After 20 Weeks
Steven Ertelt May 13, 2015 | 10:13AM Washington, DC
Americans strongly support legislation that would ban late-term abortions and protect babies who are capable of feeling intense pain during an abortion. Congress has a chance to respond to their views today when the House votes on the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks.
The vast majority of Americans are still very uncomfortable with abortion, according to a January Marist University poll. The survey finds support for abortion restrictions among both "pro-life" and "pro-choice" supporters. Despite the strong support, President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the pro-life bill.
According to the national survey, 84% of Americans want significant restrictions on abortion, and would limit abortions to, at most, the first three months of pregnancy. This includes almost 7 in 10 (69 percent) who identify themselves as "pro-choice" who support such abortion limits and oppose late-term abortions.
The same percentage (84 percent) also says that laws can protect both the well-being of a woman and the life of the unborn. In addition, by more than 20 points (60 percent to 38 percent), Americans say abortion is morally wrong.
Other national polls also show strong support nationwide for the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and stopping late-term abortions.
A poll conducted for the liberal Huffington Post find Americans support the ban on late-term abortions starting at 20-weeks of pregnancy by almost a 2-1 margin.
"By a margin of 59 percent to 30 percent, respondents to the new poll said they would favor a federal law banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy," HuffPo reported about its poll.
On a 20-week abortion ban, 70 percent of conflicted respondents said they were in favor of the measure, along with 30 percent of respondents who gave pro-abortion rights responses to both questions and 89 percent of those who gave anti-abortion responses to both.
A national poll by The Polling Company found that, after being informed that there is scientific evidence that unborn children are capable of feeling pain at least by 20 weeks, 64% would support a law banning abortion after 20 weeks, unless the mother's life was in danger. Only 30% said they would oppose such a law.
The poll also found that lawmakers who opposed such a law would do so at political peril. 48% said that they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who had voted against such a law.
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A majority also continues to oppose the vast majority of abortions that are performed. 11% would prohibit all abortions, 14 % would allow abortion only to save the life of the mother and 28% would allow abortion only in cases of life of mother, rape or incest. This indicates that 53% oppose over at least 92% of the abortions that are performed.
A November 2014 poll from Quinnipiac found that 60 percent of Americans support legislation limiting abortions after 20 weeks, including 56 percent of Independents and 46 percent of Democrats.