By Samantha Kamman, Abortion Columnist
According to a recent public-opinion poll through Gallup, a plurality of Americans identify as pro-life. A total of 49% of respondents called themselves “pro-life” compared to the 46% who accepted the label of “pro-choice.” Not since 2013 has a Gallup poll resulted in a higher percentage of respondents identifying as “pro-life” than as “pro-choice,” and such results should make pro-life advocates feel hopeful.
The survey also found the amount of Americans who think abortion should be “illegal in all circumstances” or “legal in only a few circumstances” increased from 53 percent to 60 percent between 2018 and 2019. Americans’ views on the morality of abortion have also changed, as a Gallup Poll conducted in May found the amount of Americans who see abortion as immoral has reached 50 percent for the first time since 2012.
While the opinion Americans have on abortion tends to fluctuate from year to year, it is important to remember that in 1995, a Gallup Poll found only 33 percent of Americans identified as “pro-life.” But since 1997, the pro-life movement has continued to experience an increase in public opinion, as pro-life support has managed to reach 40 percent in every poll since then. 2009 and 2012 were also good years in terms of public support for the pro-life movement, as majority of respondents considered themselves to be “pro-life” in those surveys as well.
There is even more hope in regards to the effectiveness of pro-life efforts, as the U.S. abortion rate has declined by more than 50 percent since 1980 due to the efforts of pro-lifers to educate individuals on the topic.
