If that were true then we could “decriminalize” murder, theft, drunk driving, etc. and put everything on the honor system. Laws are an important way of enforcing morality in a society. Especially in a society that seems to be becoming less religious, it’s even more important to get the laws right, because that’s the only disincentive to destructive behavior that some people will have.
“Especially in a society that seems to be becoming less religious..”
We’re on the same page. There is no freedom without Christ.
I think there is a huge difference between abortion and the other crimes you mention. That difference is that if you took a poll and asked people “Should X be legal or illegal?” with abortion you would get a major split. With the other crimes, I doubt you’d get too many people saying they should be legal.
In that sense, abortion is like drug use. Smoking pot is illegal, yet a huge percentage of adults have tried it. Why? Because they don’t think it’s a big deal.
Speeding is illegal (though not criminal). Do you know any drivers who *always* obey the speed limit?
Laws will stop some people, but not all. Laws are really not ultimately what prevent people from behaving badly. Conscience is. Morality is. Laws help to keep honest and moral people in line, but they don’t stop the sociopaths. People continue to do what they feel they have the right to do, whether it is smoking pot, having an abortion, or driving over the limit.
Do you drive over the speed limit? Will passing another law stop you from doing that? I’m not trying to insult you, and I don’t disagree with your position on the issue. I’m just trying to give an example which perhaps puts you into the mindset of someone else who does disagree with you so you can see what might be effective to change their mind.
I think you would agree with me that the issue is more important than politics. If that is the case, then what matters is reducing the number of abortions, not the way that they are reduced. If we really want to have fewer abortions then the end result should be what matters, not whether we achieved it by passing laws or by encouraging people to make better moral choices regardless of the law.