Can we agree that her mother has a duty to protect her child? If so, when does that duty begin? Can we agree that if a mother wish to dispose of her healthy newborn by exposing him to the elements, or lets the babe slowly starve to death, this is a violation of that duty? Can we agree that if a mother were offered a drug certain to cause the fetus to develop birth defects, such as being born blind and crippled, this is a violation of that duty? Can we agree that if a mother were offered a drug before pregnancy begins certain to cause any fetus to develop birth defects, such as being born blind and crippled, this is a violation of that duty? Can we agree that if it is a violation of duty to blind and cripple a child before it is born, or to take steps to cripple and line a child before it is conceived, then it is certainly a violation of that duty to kill the child before birth? Finally, can we agree that it is a proper use of law and custom to discourage and punish violations of the duty that a mother has to protect her children? For, if violating the duty is a private matter, one where the law dare not interfere with the mother's choice to neglect that duty, not only is infanticide licit both before and after birth, but so would be a mother killing her child by slow torture also licit.