Are You Ready for Dean Withers' Murder Argument?

How Poor Knowledge of Hormonal Contraception Weakens the Pro-life Position

Dean Withers’ “Surrounded” segment where he argues against the position that “abortion is immoral or not justified” highlights why pro-lifers need to become more educated on contraception.

Contraceptionists have long known that some methods can act as abortifacients, including hormonal contraception and IUDs. Abortionists have no philosophical or moral reason to separate contraceptives and abortion.

But they have a political reason.

They know that if this connection is acknowledged, then contraceptives would be rejected by the pro-lifers along with abortion outright.

But every so often, an abortionist will say the quiet part out loud if it serves their purpose. Dean Withers does exactly that when he recognizes the IUD as an abortifacient. Why would he tell the truth if it’s politically threatening to contraception? Because it also effectively weakens the pro-lifers stance on abortion.

Micah, Withers’ opponent, first gets in trouble when he appears unfamiliar with how an IUD works. Micah then agrees with Withers that some women are murderers if the IUD causes an abortion. Dean then proposes that pro-lifers must believe that women using some forms of birth control should go to jail if they wish to be consistent.

See the Youtube video here at 1:34:00

Dean’s argument goes like this: You believe murder is wrong. You believe abortions are murder. You are against abortion. The IUD sometimes murders babies. But you don’t believe women using them should go to jail. Therefore, either abortions must not murder babies, or you are inconsistent in your beliefs.

Dean also uses this argument with Charlie Kirk prompting Charlie to say “that’s actually the best point that somebody made.” (at time 00:10)

This kind of argument with its lack of nuance gets pro-lifers flustered.

First let’s look at what Dean gets right…(read more)