The abortion coulda, shoulda, woulda, pal. (Mere women, part 3)

I read another blog on this cite this afternoon (I can’t remember the title) that expressed frustration at the women who “use abortion as a “get-out-of-jail free” card.” I take quite a bit of umbrage to this characterization.
No one gets out of jail for free. No woman I know who has used this supposed “get-out-of-jail-free” card would agree that there is anything “free” about this choice. These women experience physical and emotional repercussions that they had not imagined, and when the topic of their abortion arises, one can see that they carry an ocean of sorrow and shame.
“She shouldn’t have been having sex! He should have used a condom! They should… They should…”
Coulda, shoulda, woulda, pal. Let's deal with what's in front of us right now.
Do you think that these individuals do not do their own self-recrimination? Do we really need to help them shame themselves?
I just recently had a discussion with a friend about abortion. He cited a number of perfectly valid and logical philosophical and theological reasons that he believes abortion is equal to murder. He didn’t go so far as to call it a “get-out-of-jail-free” card, however, he could not conjure any reason that it should be legal.
I have never had an abortion. I cannot imagine how it would be faced with that kind of situation. I’d like to think that I would not abort, but give the baby up for adoption. Nor will I ever find myself in a place to make that choice. A car accident several years ago eliminated the physical possibility that I could carry children. Carrying a child would kill me.
I do know, however, that I cannot fairly predict what my actions will be until I’m actually in a situation. Nor do I think anyone can. The most important thing is that no one person has the right for someone to decide for someone else. I pointed this out to my friend, that for all of the important and valid reasons that he may not support abortion, not everyone feels the way he does.
The reason that it should be legal that everyone has the right to her or their own choice. “But who is going to speak for the child?” my friend would counter. Again, that is not for you or I to deal with. That is for the parents to prioritize and decide for themselves what is best for them.