A new national poll from the Trafalgar Group found strong public support for legislation that would protect unborn babies by banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Consistent with other recent polling, the September poll found stronger support for Republican-led pro-life legislation to ban abortions after 15 weeks compared to a Democrat-backed bill that would allow abortions “at any time during pregnancy.”
According to the poll, 59 percent of voters support a federal law to ban abortions after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and risks to the mother’s health.
In contrast, 40 percent said they support legislation to create a federal “right to abortion at any time during pregnancy” and to ban states from enacting pro-life laws.
The questions mirror the content of two federal bills: the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, recently introduced, and the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act, a Democrat-led bill that would force states to legalize abortions for basically any reason through all nine months of pregnancy.
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Notably, the new poll found support for the pro-life legislation among women (53 percent) and young people (55 percent), Asians (64 percent), whites (61 percent) and Hispanics (65 percent). The only demographics in which the majority did not support the legislation were black (41 percent) and Democrat (18 percent) voters.
Polls consistently show Americans support legal protections for unborn babies, especially after the first trimester or once their heartbeat is detectable.
LifeNews recently highlighted 14 polls showing support for pro-life laws. One recent Wall Street Journal poll found 48 percent of Americans support banning abortions after 15 weeks while just 43 percent oppose it. Another poll by the Associated Press found even stronger support for such legislation, with 65 percent saying most or all abortions should be illegal in the second trimester and 80 percent in the third trimester.
Last week, U.S. Senate Republicans introduced a bill that would protect approximately 55,800 unborn babies annually by prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks except in cases of rape, incest or threats to the mother’s life.
At 15 weeks of pregnancy, unborn babies can suck their thumbs and yawn. Their hearts pump about 26 quarts of blood every day, and they show a preference for their right or left hand. Growing scientific research also indicates unborn babies can feel pain by this point.
