Abortion decision looms

Almost 40 years ago, Roe v. Wade made abortion in the United States legal, starting a fiery debate that has been burning ever since.

In less than three weeks, the controversial decision will be tested

The abortion rights versus anti-abortion debate continues in the regular sessions of the Florida Legislature with the proposal of House Bill 415, the Florida Life Act. If passed, this bill would overturn the decision from Roe v. Wade for women to have a right to their privacy and liberty as interpreted from Amendment Nine in the U.S. Constitution. It would put a complete ban on abortions, including incidents of rape, human trafficking and incest victims. The only exception allowed would be when the pregnant woman's life is compromised.

State Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-21, crafted this bill last year, but it died in the Health and Human Services Committee during session. Now redrafted, the bill has not yet been referred to a committee and Van Zant is waiting for Senate sponsorship.

"We have currently destroyed over 53 million lives through induced abortion," Van Zant said. "We are destroying minds and allowing good lives to be sacrificed. Our parents recognized the right to provide a chance for us to live, but we are taking that away from the unborn. It is a guarantee from the founding fathers; we have the God-given right to life."

State Sen. Thad Altman, R-24, said that the decision in Roe v. Wade was one of the worst the Supreme Court has ever made.

"In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson used the word ‘created' rather than ‘born' when naming the undeniable rights to citizens," Altman said. "This concept of the sanctity of life is the premise on which our country was founded."

Altman is one of the senators reviewing the bill before offering sponsorship.

"I support the general policy of pro-life and the importance of the sanctity of human life. The truth is that abortion is murder," Altman said. "However, this bill may go a little further than I want it to go."

For Sue Idtensohn, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, ‘a little' is an understatement.

"To think a woman would be forced to carry a rapist's child, a child conceived through incest or trafficking to term is horrifying," Idtensohn said. "Even the most rabid in the anti-choice movement include these exceptions."

Chair of UCF College Republicans Jonathon Little had similar sentiments.

"To ask a woman to conceive a child from such a traumatic incident is something which I cannot do," Little said. "I cannot even imagine being in their shoes. It is not my place to make a judgment."

Little said that should this bill pass, a system would have to be put in place for women to have their hands wiped clean.

H.B. 415 includes that a statewide list of attorneys providing pro bono adoption services for women with unwanted pregnancies who would have had a selected abortion must be instilled.

The implications of this bill also require that all clinics providing this service would be closed upon its approval. This includes clinics concerned primarily with health and prevention methods like Planned Parenthood.

"Planned Parenthood is being demonized and misrepresented," Idtensohn said. "Planned Parenthood does more to prevent unintended pregnancies than any other organization. Ninety-seven percent of our services are around prevention and health."

College Democrats at UCF's Women's Caucus Rep. Anna Eskamani said the proposed bill is drastic and that the government's want to cut the federal funding of Planned Parenthood shows a misunderstanding of the Planned Parenthood's mission.

"Yes, Planned Parenthood provides abortions, but that is a small fraction of what they do, and they definitely do not promote the surgery as an alternative to safe sex," Eskamani said.

Junior sociology and political science major Dominique Gelinis the Florida College Democrats Women's Caucus Chair. She said she's concerned with the social issues currently being pushed through since the Republican sweep of the House.

"If you say you are going to tackle the economic issues, then tackle the economic issues," Gelin said. As Florida College Democrats Women's Caucus Chair, she admits that her opinions and approach may differ.

"They need to prioritize and stop bringing up the issues of women's ovaries."

H.B. 415 isn't the only bill making its way to the session this March. H.B. 321, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, has already made its way to the Health and Human Services Committee. Similar to H.B. 415, it excludes incidents of trauma.

This bill, filed by State Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-116, prohibits any abortion procedures after 20 weeks based on the theory that a fetus at that stage of development can feel pain. This excludes the attending physician's decision of if it would be safe for the woman involved.

Along with H.B. 321 is State Rep. Matt Gaetz's H.B. 97, which was filed in 2010 and is also in the Health and Human Services Committee. Gaetz's bill would bar private insurance companies from covering the procedure as well as make it a felony for doctors to perform the surgery after 20 weeks, except in extreme cases of the mother's life being compromised.

These bills, as well as others making their way to session, would become effective July 1, 2011. First it must pass in the Legislature and become finalized with Gov. Rick Scott's signature.

"We are currently at war with the unborn," Van Zant said.

Gelin disagreed.

"He may say that we are at a war with the unborn, but we are at war just to defend ourselves," Gelin said. "Every inch we get, they try to push us in the other direction. They can try to reword and reframe, but when it comes down to it, they are attacking us. This would be inconsequential if it wasn't so dangerously close to being passed."