In a poll that was split almost exactly evenly between five different answers, only 40% of respondents said they were in favor of requiring prospective parents to first obtain licenses. Another 40% oppose licensing but would like to see more parental education opportunities, while the remaining quintile says we’re out of line even to discuss the matter.

Should prospective parents be required to obtain a license before having children?

This poll, conducted from May 3-18, 2011, was stimulated by the strong reader reaction to a recent IEET article entitled “Ban Baby-Making Unless Parents Are Licensed.”