There’s an idea within some right-leaning circles that because individual rights are highly prized, abortion should be supported. While you can easily be a libertarian or member of the Republican Party and claim the label “pro-choice,” you can’t be a conservative and do the same.

Most libertarians value individual freedom as the greatest and highest good. This naturally extends to a woman’s right to control her physical form. When pregnant, this is also applied to the body within her body. Of course, the mere existence of a separate body itself removes this outright authority from the female. Deciding whether an unborn child will live or die should never be determined by the mother, family, or doctors. In terminal cases, where viability or quality of life can’t be fully obtained, life-affirming decisions should be made and the dignity of all should be respected.