In mere weeks, you and I will know if the U.S. Supreme Court will, in fact, overturn Roe v. Wade. But even if our hopes come true and Roe is overruled, that alone will not end the intentional killing of innocent unborn humans in our nation. Instead, it will throw the debate back to the states.
And that will only intensify the abortion debate, which makes the need for solid pro-life apologetics all the greater. For that reason, I'd like to share a clever but deceptive abortion-choice argument . . . and equip you with a clear and thoughtful response supplied by STR speaker Alan Shlemon.
This widely circulated abortion-choice post makes the claim that young men buying guns are just like young women seeking abortions. For that reason, it is argued, gun buyers should be subjected to the same restrictions as women getting abortions. That means imposing on gun buyers requirements like a mandatory waiting period, parental permission, a doctor’s note, watching a video on the effects of “gun violence,” even an invasive ultrasound.
|
But is buying a gun comparable to getting an abortion?Alan unpacks the answer in his fascinating and helpful commentary . . . |
|
The key question with this post is whether procuring an abortion and purchasing a gun are comparable in relevant ways. Upon a little reflection, however, it seems that’s not the case. First, procuring an abortion is not a right that’s protected in the Constitution, whereas the Second Amendment declares the “right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Second, nearly every abortion results in the death of an innocent human being (2,363 instances daily in the United States). Even where the unborn survives the abortion (an exceedingly rare situation), the intent to kill them was still present. Contrast that with the 108,754 firearms that were purchased each day in the United States during 2020. Despite the record sales, it’s impossible that every firearm purchase resulted in the intentional killing of an innocent human being. The point is that while nearly every abortion kills an innocent human being, the vast majority of gun purchasers never kill anyone. Third, this comparison describes abortion as merely “health care,” a deceptive euphemism. Even if you’re an abortion-choice advocate, you must admit that abortion kills whatever living organism resides in a woman’s uterus. The science of embryology demonstrates that a pregnant woman’s uterus contains a living, distinct, human being. We know it’s living because it grows, responds to stimuli, and converts nutrients to energy. We know it’s distinct because its DNA is different from the rest of the mother’s body. We know it’s human because of the basic and commonsense principle that living beings reproduce after their own kind. Since two humans mated to produce the unborn, we can be confident that what they reproduced was also human. The bottom line is that what is killed in abortion is scientifically known to be a living, distinct, human being. It’s also the mother’s offspring—either a son or daughter. You can call abortion “health care,” but you can’t deny that it kills an innocent human being. |
| Douglas, helping you think through and answer clever, but deceptive, abortion-choice claims is just one facet of what your generosity makes possible. Because of you, STR trains and equips thousands of articulate, gracious, and incisive Christian Ambassadors to “stand to reason” in the public square.
But because you and I live in a culture bristling with hostility against Christianity, there is an urgent need for more bold, clear-minded, and compassionate believers—followers of Christ who can confidently make the case for Christian faith and values. Will you prayerfully consider a gift now to accelerate everything STR does to help you and others stand for Jesus? Your much-needed support can make a life-changing difference for others. Please let me hear from you right away. Thank you for your friendship—and for the impact you make by your partnership and prayers! Serving Him together, Greg Koukl |
