[Bunk]

In an impossible attempt to square the circle on the various arguments - I think there are a number of things most reasonable people could agree:

- most on both sides come to the table in good faith. Not about control over others, but deeply held conviction. Some are obviously exceptions.

- abortion is going to happen whether or not it is legal or illegal. Outcomes of illegal abortions have proven to be pretty disastrous.

- our instincts tell us that it would seem that 5 minutes before birth there is a life that would seem unethical to end for reasons other than medical/ life of the mother at stake. Most probably feel that way further back in the pregnancy to some point of fetal viability outside the womb.

- however if someone gets to say 8 months pregnancy they have already decided to take a pregnancy to term. So the extreme case of late term abortion is likely 99.9% a medical issue, not an arbitrary termination.

- limits to abortion at say a heartbeat seem unreasonably early as there is a decent likelihood a person unexpectedly pregnant may not know they are pregnant at that point. If they want an abortion, and is illegal, they may seek an unsafe one anyway.

- if there is limits, I think most would agree a more defensible one would be somewhere past mid-term between say 12 and 24 weeks. Not too early to not know, but not past viability outside the womb. There is no bright line.

- but since late term abortions are going to be almost certainly have medical reasons based on the life and health of the baby or mother, the limitations on late term are probably moot and not reasonable to enforce. They are probably solutions in search of a a problem that doesn’t actually exist.

- exceptions for incest or rape should be on the table in any event.

- decisions to abort are probably horrible and gut wrenching for anyone - which tells us there are no black and white ethical knowns here.

I’d argue there must ability to access abortion as a choice - if for no other reason it’ll happen on any event and it would be unethical to push it underground. I don’t think limitations are necessary, but if there is one, it must be reasonable in terms of time and circumstances of the pregnancy (such as rape, incest or health).