What you have to understand is that when a rightie uses the word “life” it does not actually have a predefined meaning; it exists in a quantum state where the definition is a goalpost that can be exist in any state they want. It does not mean consciousness, personhood, genetic uniqueness, or even (ugh) “ensoulment”* - because as you logically rule out one meaning, it will REALLY mean another. And when you exhaust all options, then the ad hominems come out. “A life” is whatever they want it to be to justify their exercise of power over others.
- Fun fact: Those who make the “ensoulment (at conception)” argument do so in opposition to their own scripture, which defines life/personhood (nephesh) as beginning only with ones first breath.