I'm kind of a weird conservative. Here's my thoughts on abortion (which I RARELY share with anyone, so read 'em now, cuz I won't likely do this again for a long long time).
Someone very close to me had a very early abortion when she was very young. She was young, single, in love with the father--but he was not a very responsible kind of guy and he wanted nothing to do with having a baby. She was pressured by him, and certain members of her own family to abort.
So, she did. At 8 weeks. I watched her downhill slide mentally afterwards in complete horror.
Prior to the procedure she was a very happy, secure and contented person. Afterwards, she was angry, withdrawn, and she drank. A LOT. And often alone. She pushed people she loved away, including me.....someone she'd been very close to her entire life. At one point she was suicidal because (in her words) "I killed my child and I'm going to hell for it".
It took her years and years to recover emotionally. Lots of therapy and lots of work to forgive herself.
She's OK now....she moved on and even has children now. But the anniversary day of the procedure, even 25 years down the road, still haunts her. It's something she dreads every year and a day she just barely manages to push through. My heart breaks for her, as I have lost children to miscarriage and I know the pain too well.
She always calls me that day and we always share a prayer and have a memorial for her lost little one over the phone, privately just the two of us. She used to take a single red rose to the clinic and leave it on the front stoop with a card reading, "I'm SO sorry, please forgive me. Love Mommy", but the building was torn down years ago to make way for a highway and she obviously can't do that now.
While I disagree with the choice she made, it was hers to make. I wish she could have known how her choice would affect her before that awful day, but hindsight is 20/20 and she didn't have that benefit.
Even her experience was so horrible, I think abortion should be legal---but with SEVERE limits.
Such as:
1. Abortion available only up until 8-12 weeks gestational age, after that it would be illegal. As in criminal consequences for obtaining and/or performing an abortion after that cut-off.
2. REAL psychological counseling for the mother to make sure she really really understands what she is getting into. Complete with attending a post-abortion grief counseling meeting--so she can see the REAL consequences of having an abortion.
3. She must visit an adoption agency to explore that option, as well as visiting an unwed mother's home to explore that option (ie, carrying to term at the home and getting back on her feet with their assistance).
4. Only after doing all of the above, would the abortion be made available to her.
5. PARTIAL DELIVERY Abortion would NEVER EVER be legal at any gestational age and there would be FELONY criminal consequences for those who obtain, perform or assist such a procedure.
Those are just a few of the restrictions/requirements I would put in place if I were in charge.
And that, my friends is THIS conservative person's opinion on abortion. Sling mud if you wish.