TALLAHASSEE - On near opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, Rep. Daniel Davis and Planned Parenthood are in agreement on the intent of a bill the Jacksonville Republican filed this month.
“It is a 20-week abortion ban,” said Helen Strain, vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of North Florida.
Because, supporters say, a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks, Davis has taken a political defibrillator to an effort to ban abortions after 20 weeks. Near identical legislation fizzled in committee last year.
“I think as a society we do not want people to feel pain,” Davis said. “We should do everything we can do to relieve pain.”
The bill includes an exception if the pregnancy endangers a woman’s life or could cause her “substantial and irreversible physical impairment.” It does not include exemptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.
The bill was part of 18 pieces of legislation filed in the House and Senate during last year’s legislative session. Many passed. The 20-week ban did not.
Read more here: http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-12-20/story/jacksonville-legislator-introduce-anti-abortion-bill
