The Florida for Life Act is up yet again in the state legislature. This bill, should it become law, would overturn Roe vs. Wade and illegalize the majority of abortions in the state of Florida. The only abortions that would be allowable under this law would be in the event of a "medical emergency" (in other words, the abortion is necessary to save the life of the patient), and any doctors performing an abortion for any other reason would be charged with a felony with a maximum sentence of life in prison. No exceptions would be made for victims of rape or incest.
The last time this bill was brought before the state legislature, it was filed on February 17, 2010 by Charles Van Zant, and died in the Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council on April 30, 2010. Just over a week ago, Van Zant reintroduced the bill. The next legislative session opens January 10th. The entire bill (approximately 30 pages) may be read here.
Twelve Bay Area voters, which included both men and women, from both pro-abortion and anti-abortion camps, were willing to give a statement to Examiner. Out of all twelve people interviewed, not one of them support this bill. The major concern revealed by constituents appears to be that no exception will be made for victims of rape and/or incest. (Due to the controversial nature of this topic, no full names are being released.)
"I think not allowing a 14-year-old girl that was raped by her father to have an abortion is absolutely terrible. While I don't think anyone who doesn't want to use a condom should get an abortion (my sister had two because she was irresponsible), I also think we should take into account what the child's life would be like. Unfortunately, not everyone puts their unwanted child up for adoption like they should. Some kids get to stay in drug infested homes. There is no right or wrong answer I guess. That law is [expletive] though." -- Melissa
"I am appalled. While I do not like the idea of abortion at all, criminalizing the doctor is ridiculous. It is implying that a doctor would force the patient to under go the procedure." -- Sabina
"No exception for incest or rape? I wonder how they would feel if it were their daughter who was forced to have the baby of a rapist. If you're going to have sex, you accept the responsibility that you may become pregnant - you knowingly take the risk. If you are raped, you have no choice whatsoever, and who the heck is the state to demand you give up your body and mental health for a baby you tried not to have through prevention?" -- Rebecca
"I'm pro-abortion, but only if the circumstances call for it. For example, the mother and baby could both die in childbirth, mother was raped, mother is 12... I'm not pro-abortion for people who are just plain stupid, don't use protection, and think they can take the "easy way out." -- Virginia
"I am pro-choice, 100%. Even if the abortion is being done out of stupidity, I believe a woman has the right to decide what is best for her life and her body. I am not saying that I would have one if it came down to it, but women should have the option. This law would send women back to the black market slaughterhouses to get abortions. We need to look at why Roe v. Wade was passed in the first place. Not only would the Florida for Life Act undermine the Constitution, the fact that the doctors would be in trouble for performing abortions means that the doctors who are willing to do them illegally are most likely not going to be performing them safely." -- Ashley
"I am a pro-lifer, but I think this law would be awful. They are doing it the wrong way. I have libertarian views on this. It is dumb to make all of them illegal. I believe third trimester abortions should be illegal. Yes, we can allow it if the mothers life is in danger. Watch a video on how that procedure is done. (I will also point out that I am against using taxpayer dollars for abortions.) From a legal point of view, this would get thrown out. The bill would be unconstitutional. I am pro-life, but this would have no legal standing." -- Steve
"I am 95% anti-abortion, but there are always circumstances such as rape/incest etc. You do the crime (sex), you do the time (childbirth and parenting), except for certain situations (rape, incest, etc). (On the other hand, I feel for the fathers-to-be that are against the abortion, but have no choice. I have seen it devastate a friend of mine.) I do not think that women should have abortions if they were raped. Personally if that happened to me, I would not abort, but from a victim's standpoint, they may feel like having a baby after being raped is traumatic. I would never say that a baby conceived from a rape is a 'product of rape.' I personally would feel like the rape happened because my child was meant to be born, but other women may not feel like that." -- Karissa
"I am pro-choice, but with limitations. I believe a woman has the right to do what she wants with her body, but not abuse it. I think women who are sexually abused/raped or are victims of incest should have the right to choose to have an abortion. Also, I think any woman who cannot stay clean from drugs and alcohol for the term of a pregnancy should be able to have an abortion because it would be cruel to the embryo/fetus (any woman who can't stay clean should not be having unprotected sex in the first place). Women who choose not to protect themselves and repeatedly become pregnant do not deserve the right to have multiple abortions after the first instance." -- Rachel
"Abortion laws should not be about whether you are pro or anti. Women will continue to get abortions. If abortions are illegal, they will do so in ways that could harm them and their fetuses. When they have access to legal methods, there are fewer extreme actions that are taken. This isn't a question of right and wrong, like some people want to make it. It's a question of accepting that everyone will not agree and not punishing women and unborn children because of differing views." -- Susan
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