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On abortion, changing views among teens

Though the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, the topic continues to be debated in the public square today.

Though the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, the topic continues to be debated in the public square today.

Some say it should always be available. Some would ban the procedure. Others would limit it. Some would deny public funding for clinics.

A popular belief is that millennials are far more liberal than their parents. But Gallup's most recent Values and Beliefs survey, conducted in May 2013, showed that the issue remains unsettled.

Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 51 percent consider themselves pro-choice, in favor of abortion rights; 41 percent identified as pro-life, or antiabortion, according to the survey.

Among 50- to 64-year-olds, 42 percent favor abortion rights and 50 percent are antiabortion.

Overall, Americans continue to be almost equally divided, with 45 percent favoring abortion rights and 48 percent antiabortion, according to the survey.

Abortion-rights sentiment was high around the time of the procedure's legalization in the case of Roe v. Wade.

Shortly after abortion was legalized, clinics began popping up, and they became focal points for activists on both sides of the issue.

Between 1993 and 2013, the proportion of voters who favored abortion rights went from 56 percent to 44 percent, and the antiabortion numbers went from 42 percent to 58 percent by some measures.

Over the years, polls have shown that people are conflicted over the issue. Some are opposed to abortion in all cases, but others who oppose say there should be exceptions, such as in cases of incest or rape.

And though many people may feel that this generation of teenagers has become increasingly accepting of things like abortion, a random survey of 20 high school seniors tells a different story: 17 considered themselves to be pro-life, one was undecided, and just two were pro-choice.