A couple of abortion-related bills passed the Florida House Friday. Representative Larry Ahern’s (R-Seminole) bill makes it a separate crime to kill or injure the fetus at any stage of development, during an attack against the mother.
But, Rep. Lori Berman (D-Lantana) says there are unintended consequences to passing such a bill.
“You could have a woman playing soccer and her friend or someone she didn’t know accidentally kicks her in the stomach and causes a miscarriage. That woman could be subject to jail time,” said Berman.
The measure is in part inspired by a woman whose ex-boyfriend tried to abort their baby by disguising a drug he gave to her as an antibiotic. But, Ahern says even after he confessed, there’s no law on the books that provides justice for the woman.
“This is the moment for Florida to be sure that we extend the justice that’s necessary to protect, not just the mother, but the child she is carrying inside her from these monsters who would prey on pregnancy women, and their only reason for this is to kill that child,” said Ahern.
The bill passed the House 74-42. Meanwhile, a similar bill is also heading for a vote in the Senate. Another measure sponsored by Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach) that passed the House essentially bans abortions after the viability of a fetus has been determined. It aims to change a law that bans abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy, with some exceptions.
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