AP: Abortions Are Declining Nationwide

06.08.2015 | News | Alicia Powe |

Good news. Abortions have declined “nearly everywhere” in the nation, in both red and blue states, according to an Associated Press survey.

States that have tightened abortion restrictions as well as states where abortion rights are protected have seen a significant decline. The AP survey showed a decrease in abortions of about 12 percent nationwide since 2010.

“Several of the states that have been most aggressive in passing anti-abortion laws — including Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Oklahoma — have seen their abortion numbers drop by more than 15 percent since 2010,” according to the report. “But more liberal states such as New York, Washington and Oregon also had declines of that magnitude, even as they maintained unrestricted access to abortion.

“Five of the six states with the biggest declines — Hawaii at 30 percent, New Mexico at 24 percent, Nevada and Rhode Island at 22 percent, Connecticut at 21 percent — have passed no recent laws to restrict abortion clinics or providers.”

Abortion-rights advocates and foes of abortion have varying opinions about why so many less women are choosing to carry their babies to term.

Pro-choice supporters attribute the broad decrease in abortions to expanded access to effective contraceptives, better sex education and a drop in unintended pregnancies.

“Better access to birth control and sex education are the biggest factors in reducing unintended pregnancies,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “More restrictive abortion laws do not reduce the need for abortions.”

Some foes of abortion claim the figures demonstrate that there has been a shift in attitudes among pregnant women and society.

“There’s an entire generation of women who saw a sonogram as their first baby picture,” Americans United for Life president, Charmaine Yoest, said. “There’s an increased awareness of the humanity of the baby before it is born.”

A decline in the teen pregnancy rate, which in 2010 reached its lowest level in decades, is a major factor in the decrease.

Alicia Powe

Staff Writer

Alicia Powe is a staff writer for Daily Surge. She worked in the War Room of the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee and served as a White House Intern during the George W. Bush administration. Alicia has written for numerous outlets, including Human Events, Media Research Center and Townhall.com.

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