
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991                   TAG: 9103010349
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

ABORTION-RIGHTS FOES CLAIM SUPPORT IN POLL

An untapped "silent majority" opposes most abortions but is not well informed about women's rights to end their pregnancies, a group opposed to abortion rights said Thursday in announcing the results of a poll it commissioned from the Gallup Organization.

Americans United for Life said the survey shows most Americans do not know the extent to which abortion is legal.

"When properly informed, a majority of people will embrace a new policy" that severely restricts abortions, contended Laurie Anne Ramsey, the group's vice president for public affairs. "The vast majority of Americans are opposed to most abortions."

The new poll seems to contradict other surveys that show most Americans support the right to abortion created by the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in Roe vs. Wade.

- Associated Press

by CNB