A Florida state Senator introduced a bill that would ban abortions after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detected.
The bill was filed by State Sen. Dennis Baxley, a Republican, on Feb. 6. The bill would make it a felony for any person who “knowingly or purposefully performs or induces an abortion on a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of the unborn human being whose fetal heartbeat has been detected.”
The legislation is similar to a bill that passed in Ohio late last year before being vetoed by outgoing Gov. John Kasich.
New Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vowed recently to sign the bill if it was reintroduced and passed, noting that it would definitely be challenged in court by pro-abortion groups but that the decision on its legality would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.
“It’s time for us to face our history of the last 46 years and the 60 million faces of our offspring that we have extinguished,” Baxley said in a statement. “The heartbeat has always been the clear signal of the presence of life, and that life must be protected.”
He said that the election of Gov. Ron DeSantis gives lawmakers an opportunity to pass the bill.
“I think we have a great opportunity this year,” said Baxley. “Our new Governor, Ron DeSantis has expressed support for meaningful pro-life legislation, so I don’t think we’ll run in to the same issues that Ohio did.”
DeSantis said in June 2018 while campaigning that he would sign pro-life legislation.
SB 792 is identical to HB 235 (pdf), which was filed in the state’s House of Representatives in January by Rep. Mike Hill, a Republican.
The bills have limited exceptions, including if a woman’s life is in danger.
Currently, it’s legal to get abortions up to 24 weeks after conception.
Hill told Capitol News Service that a fetal heartbeat can usually be detected after 18 days but pro-abortion Planned Parenthood said it couldn’t be detected until six weeks.
“We think we can start overturning a lot of these abortion rulings that are killing the unborn,” said Hill. “My oath said that I would protect life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Life being the first one.”
Trump Slams Virginia Gov Over Comments
President Donald Trump slammed Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam‘s recent comments on killing babies after birth during his State of the Union speech, saying Northam advocated for murder.
“We had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth,” Trump said during the State of the Union speech in Washington on Feb. 5.
Northam made the comments during a radio interview in support of legislation that would have allowed abortion up until the moments before a child is born with the approval of just one doctor.
“In this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired,” Gov. Ralph Northam said during an interview on WTOP on Jan. 30. “And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
President Donald Trump, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence looking on, delivers the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Feb. 5, 2019. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images
Trump, who has been ardently pro-life since announcing he was running for president, said during the speech that his administration is working on a plan for nationwide paid family leave “so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child.”
Then, he transitioned to abortion.
“There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days,” he added.
“Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments before birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world.”
