I believe the comparison Afton Dahl was trying to make is that even when someone is on their death bed, as long as they STILL have a heartbeat (i.e. one of the MEDICAL SIGNS of LIFE), they are considered ALIVE.
Since a PRE-BORN baby also has a heartbeat---at 12 to 18 days after conception (I've always heard 18 to 24 days)---it, too, MUST therefore ALSO be considered ALIVE.
BTW, in 1974, I was an ARDENT supporter of abortion rights. I changed my mind 180 degrees, however, when I had to do an UNBIASED simulated radio broadcast on a "controversial issue" for a Radio/TV/Film class at TCU. I THOUGHT it would be easy. I THOUGHT I would put what I then called "those religious nuts" to shame.
After forcing myself to have to FAIRLY INVESTIGATE the "other" side's arguments, I realized I was WRONG. And I realized that there are 3 questions that MUST be asked:
(1) Is "it" alive? Is "it" growing? No matter WHAT someone might want to call "it," "it" IS 100% BIOLOGICALLY ALIVE---from the MOMENT of conception! And in 9 months, barring abortion or miscarriage, a baby will be born.
(2) Is "it" human? Does "it" have DNA from a dog, cat, horse, zebra, or HUMAN? "It" has HUMAN DNA! "It" IS 100% BIOLOGICALLY HUMAN---from the MOMENT of conception!
(3) Would PETA allow a dog or cat to have its legs RIPPED OFF of its PRE-BORN body and its SKULL CRUSHED? Obviously, NOT!
Well, if "it" IS ALIVE, and "it" IS HUMAN, and PETA would NEVER allow a dog or cat to be treated so INHUMANELY, WHY do we allow it to be done to PRE-BORN HUMAN BABIES???
GREAT POINT!!
You know that is one I've wondered about. Never seen any information about it although I've suspected it with the silly things that you see about where they have someone on a movie set to make sure that a bug wasn't killed in the making of a movie (Shawshank Redemption for instance). I've wondered if I found a stray cat and took it to my vet, would they perform an abortion if I requested one or would they refuse. If they agreed and PETA found out, what would they do, try to get an injunction?