Question of the Day: How Does One Oppose Abortion and Support Executions?

This morning National Journal writer Ron Fournier opened a big can of worms when he asked this question:

How does one oppose abortion and support executions? Discuss.

— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) January 16, 2014

It always surprises me that otherwise intelligent people seem to struggle with the difference between abortion and capital punishment. Fortunately there were a swarm of people willing to take Fournier up on his offer to discuss the difference. Here are a few examples:

@ron_fournier By understanding the concepts of guilt and innocence.

— KnightsofMalta (@JeanValette) January 16, 2014

@ron_fournier Killing of innocent, bad. Killing of guilty, ok. #TheEnd

— Razor (@hale_razor) January 16, 2014

.@ron_fournier Name a single viable fetus that’s ever committed rape or murder.

— S.M (@redsteeze) January 16, 2014

@ron_fournier Clarifying questions, first. Are the unborn children charged with a crime? Are those up for execution not charged, convicted?

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 16, 2014

A couple of folks pointed out that the question is rarely turned around in the other direction:

.@ron_fournier Have you ever asked the inverse? This exemplifies why the MSM is out of touch on abortion. And I’m pro-choice/death penalty.

— Jason Epstein (@Southfive) January 16, 2014

@ron_fournier Isn’t the inverse the bigger problem intellectually? Pro abortion, anti- death penalty?

— Darrick Johnson (@darrickjohnson) January 16, 2014

Fournier responded to that one:

@darrickjohnson Good question.

— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) January 16, 2014

It really is a good question and the answer is yes. I jumped in to point out why:

@ron_fournier 39 executions (in 2013): http://t.co/mDwJ8RghJs
vs. ~11,000 late term abortions: http://t.co/Rj898A2On0

— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 16, 2014

Someone added some disturbing color to the figures:

@verumserum @AdamBaldwin @ron_fournier Libs fight over drug injected into murders. In a saline abortion baby chokes & burns on saline.

— Jeff Minch (@UberMinch) January 16, 2014

There are of course some who choose to take a consistent view of the two issues:

@ron_fournier I oppose both, but DP is an actual penalty for crimes committed. Abortion is taking a life that hasn’t offended.

— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) January 16, 2014

I shed no tears for the ghouls we execute, but still oppose killing them. @RBPundit @JeanValette @ron_fournier

— S D Winkler (@sdwinkler) January 16, 2014

Which is not the same thing as saying the cases are equivalent.

.@skooter1952 The lives of bad men, esp. those convicted of capital crimes, is antithetical to “precious”. – @ron_fournier @MattWalshRadio

— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) January 16, 2014

So nearly everyone, including those who oppose both abortion and capital punishment, see a clear difference between the two.

Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt vs. complete innocence.

Dozens vs. tens of thousands.

It’s one thing to suggest everyone should be consistent. It’s another to suggest the vast differences between capital punishment and abortion are obscure or difficult to fathom.