I’ve posted twice already on the new Gallup abortion poll numbers:
Here’s another thought. Look at Gallup’s summary of the data (see the second table here):
David Lee brought one of the numbers to my attention: 35% of self-proclaimed pro-lifers believe abortion should be legal in the first trimester. Note that 26-27% of the “pro-life” group also believe aborting a “mentally impaired” or “physically impaired” child should be legal.
It’s because of this phenomenon (“pro-life” people taking “pro-choice” positions when it comes to law) that I made the comment in my book (and we make the same comment during JFA’s ADD Seminar), that the terms “pro-life” and “pro-choice” can’t tell you much in themselves. You need to ask more questions of people to know what they themselves mean by it. In my experience, the term “pro-life” sometimes means,
“I’m personally pro-life, but I can’t tell others what to do with their bodies.”
It’s difficult, though, to distinguish that position from the classic pro-choice position that says,
“Regardless of how I feel about abortion personally, I believe we shouldn’t make laws against it. Women should be able to choose it.”
Human Beings Matter More 