Joaquin Juarez is a reporter for the Wildcat Chronicle who occasionally writes opinion pieces. The views expressed here belong solely to the author.
A 13-year-old girl sits in a hospital room after experiencing something traumatic and discovering she is pregnant. In another situation, a woman learns that continuing her pregnancy could seriously threaten her health. Situations like these continue to fuel one of the most difficult and emotional debates in the United States: should abortion be legal, and if so, where should limits exist?
Abortion should remain legal in serious situations such as rape, incest, severe health complications or pregnancies involving very young girls. In cases like these, the pregnancy may be traumatic, dangerous or entirely outside of a person’s control. However, outside of those circumstances, many people believe individuals should take responsibility for their actions and decisions regarding pregnancy.
A student poll conducted at West Chicago Community High School in April 2026 asked 123 students whether abortion should be legal. Results showed that 37% supported legality in all cases, 22% supported legality in most cases, 32% supported legality in some cases and 9% believed abortion should be illegal in all cases, reflecting the wide range of opinions students hold on the issue.
Abortion has remained one of the most debated political and moral issues in the United States for decades. The debate became even more intense following the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed individual states to determine their own abortion laws. Since then, some states have enacted strict bans while others continue allowing abortion access with fewer restrictions.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, most abortions occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. The organization also reports that financial concerns, personal circumstances and timing are among the most common reasons people seek abortions. However, situations involving rape, incest or severe medical complications often create especially difficult circumstances that many people believe should qualify as exceptions under abortion laws.
Doctors and medical organizations have also warned that pregnancy can be especially dangerous for young girls or women with serious health conditions. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, some pregnancies can become life-threatening or permanently affect a woman’s future reproductive health. In those cases, abortion may become a necessary medical procedure rather than simply a personal choice.
Opponents of abortion often argue that life begins before birth and believe abortion should be heavily restricted or banned entirely. Many people also believe abortion raises important moral and religious concerns regarding the rights of unborn children.
At the same time, supporters of abortion exceptions argue that laws should show compassion toward people facing the most serious and traumatic situations. Allowing abortion in cases involving rape, incest or major health risks recognizes that not every pregnancy happens under normal circumstances.
Greater access to education, healthcare resources and pregnancy prevention programs could also help reduce unintended pregnancies while still supporting women facing difficult decisions. Although abortion will likely remain controversial, lawmakers continue facing pressure to balance personal responsibility, medical safety and compassion when creating policies that affect millions of people across the country.
