Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has recently brought the issue of pro-life versus pro-choice to the forefront of our country’s political discussion, and with it, accusations on what it means to be pro-life.
Pro-choice advocates have been quick to attack those who are pro-life as being hypocritical and only pro-birth. One example of this is NARAL Pro-Choice America, which has said they are, “committed to calling out this ‘pro-life’ hypocrisy” and support the position that “the anti-choice movement is NOT ‘pro-life’—they’re pro-lie.”
As a pro-life young woman, I am saddened but not surprised to see this. Personally, I’ve been told this on more than one occasion. But the attacks on my beliefs and even on my character have not stopped there. As an outspoken pro-life advocate, I have found myself in many conversations with those who disagree with me and have learned that many mischaracterize the goals of the pro-life movement.
I am pro-life because I want to protect and uphold the dignity of all human life, both inside and outside of the womb.
This is why I also respect the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I know the importance of self-protection against those who wish to do harm. Both pro-life policies and the constitutional right to keep and bear arms protect some of the most vulnerable in our society. Upholding both is as pro-life as it gets.
After the tragedy of a mass shooting, it is common to hear calls to limit our Second Amendment rights. Rhetoric towards pro-life and pro-Second Amendment individuals becomes much more hostile and vicious. Pro-life advocates are told they are only “pro-birth” and do not care about protecting children outside of the womb.
In the eyes of gun control advocates, supporting the right to keep and bear arms has become synonymous with not caring about innocent human lives. Instead of attacking the bad guy with a gun, the lawful gun owner is blamed and criticized for owning their weapon.
However, Americans use firearms for self-defense between 500,000 and 3 million times every year. The defensive use of firearms, when that right to do so is not infringed upon, actively protects the most defenseless in our society; it is the greatest equalizer. Firearms give those who are at a physical disadvantage to their attacker the ability to protect themselves.
According to the Crime Prevention Research Center, more than 90% of mass shootings from 1950 to 2019 occurred in gun-free zones. Many people assume that by supporting gun control legislation you are on the side of justice and protecting innocent life. Instead, allowing for the use of self-defense and self-preservation can actively protect innocent people from facing harm.
The ideology behind supporting the Second Amendment is not to put weapons in the arms of criminals. In fact, it is the opposite. The goal is to give the power to lawful citizens who are trained in the use of a firearm to prevent these heinous actions.
Therefore, supporting the Second Amendment is a pro-life position because it means you want to protect yourself, your loved ones, and innocent people from people who take horrendous actions.
Being pro-life means I support policies that will protect and uphold the dignity of all human life, specifically those who are most defenseless in our society. Fighting back against pro-choice policies does this by protecting those in the womb. Supporting the Second Amendment ensures that law-abiding citizens can protect themselves when they are in trouble as well as keep the innocent lives around them safe.
Not only can you be pro-Second Amendment and pro-life, but it is vital so that we can create a society that protects the most innocent from harm – inside and outside of the womb.
Franchetta Groves
Franchetta Groves is a junior at the Catholic University of America and a Student Media Fellow with the Network of enlightened Women (NeW). NeW is part of a growing conservative movement on college campuses. (edited)
The views expressed in this article are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Lone Conservative staff.
@ChettaGroves
