On 1st Anniversary of Roe’s Demise, Most Americans Want Some Limits on Abortion, Poll Finds
Elise McCue /
A majority of Americans support protections for unborn children and their mothers, a new poll conducted for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America shows.
In the year since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, 24 states have enacted pro-life protections for the unborn and their mothers, the pro-life group notes: Wyoming extended Medicaid to cover mothers through the first year after her child is born. Mississippi’s governor signed off on foster care and adoption reforms. North Carolina established $160 million for child care, parental leave and community college assistance. Other Republican-led states increased support for pregnancy resource centers that offer goods and services free of charge to expectant mothers, such as ultrasounds, medical exams, counseling, housing and baby clothing.
The poll, released Wednesday, of 1,000 likely voters nationwide was conducted June 6-9 by the Tarrance Group. It has a ±3.1% margin of error. The findings were released ahead of June 24, the first anniversary of the high court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning its 1973 Roe ruling.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents agree there should be at least some limits on abortion by 15 weeks of pregnancy, the point at which the baby can feel pain.
Some other findings of the poll on the country’s views on abortions include:
- Nearly 6 in 10 voters support Congress passing legislation to enact limits on abortion after 15 weeks.
- 76% of those polled support pregnancy resource centers that provide financial and material support for mothers during pregnancy but don’t perform abortions. That number included 87% of Republicans, 68% of Democrats, 70% of independents, 76% of men, and 77% of women.
- 70% of respondents agree minors should be required to notify parents when seeking an abortion.
“Americans strongly agree Congress also has a role to play in protecting babies from brutal late-term abortions when they can feel pain,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, said in a press statement. “We reject the Democrats’ radical agenda of tax-funded abortion on demand until birth.”
SBA Pro-Life America’s supplemental “fact sheet” to the poll goes on to detail how unborn lives remain under attack despite support for those protections.
Abortion activists push to strip parents of their rights at the state level. Currently, minors can receive an abortion without informing their parents in 23 states. Activist organizations such as Jane’s Due Process counsels girls on how to get an abortion behind their parents’ backs, violating state laws, according to the SBA Pro-Life America white paper.
Planned Parenthood continues to be a major proponent of highly contentious abortion practices: It successfully argued in Alaska that the “right to abortion” cannot be burdened by parental consent. It’s also currently suing to block an Idaho law that prohibits abortion trafficking, wherein an adult helps a minor obtain an abortion, sometimes out of state, without parental consent.
Abortions made up 97.2% of Planned Parenthood’s pregnancy resolution services, according to pro-life group’s fact sheet, citing the abortion provider’s 2021-2022 annual report.
Meanwhile, all but two House Democrats opposed requiring health care for babies born alive after botched abortions. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, voted on in January, was approved 220-210, with one Texas Democrat voting in favor and another voting “present.” Most congressional Democrats support abortion up to the moment of birth, despite voters’ overwhelming support for many pro-life protections.
The Biden administration is committed to using federal funds to set up a federal abortion hotline, illegally turning veterans hospitals into abortion facilities, and funding abortion travel through the Defense Department, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America says, adding that violence against pro-life advocates and attacks on pro-life pregnancy resource centers are also at an all-time high.
Still, pregnancy help centers and maternity homes outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 14 to 1, with nearly 3,000 centers open and operating. Pro-life lawmakers and advocates are focusing their work toward support for women and children through pregnancy and after birth.
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