In red-state Florida, abortion supporters there would consider it a prize to amend the state constitution to promote abortions in a state with strict pro-life laws.
In Arizona, the state legislature has now voted to legalize abortion through 15 weeks after abortion supporters were angered when an 1800s-era law banning abortion was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Lynda Bell, executive director of Florida Right to Life, says the Florida Supreme Court has upheld a heartbeat law and is also allowing a controversial amendment, Amendment 4, on the ballot in November. The court voted 4-3 to allow the ballot measure despite controversy over its wording.
“One of the justices stated that we're not here to call balls and strikes but my thought was that's exactly your job,” Bell complains. “That's what you're there for.”
In the state court’s 4-3 ruling, the court’s three female judges said the amendment’s language is vague and deceptive, such as a reference to parental notification for minors seeking an abortion. It would remove parental consent, however, is approved by voters.
“So you literally have, if passed, an amendment that would allow abortion through all nine months, including through birth,” Bell warns. “And children do not need the permission of their parents.”
Cathi Herrod, of the Center for Arizona Policy, tells AFN the pro-life side has not given up after the legislature pushed back on the state court ruling. That is because the next fight is a proposed constitutional amendment.
“We will now focus 100% on defeating the radical so-called Arizona Abortion Access amendment that has been filed in our state,” she says, “that would lead to unrestricted, unregulated abortion…”
Herrod and Arizona Policy believe voters will defeat the amendment, she says, if they learn how “radical” it is before Election Day.
