A direct attack on women’s safety

As Floridians prepare to vote on Amendment 4 this November, it is essential to understand what is really at stake. This amendment is not just about abortion; it is a drastic measure that would deprive parents of their rights and seriously endanger the health and safety of women and minor girls. If Amendment 4 passes, Florida will become one of the most extreme pro-abortion states in the country – a destination for unregulated, unsafe abortions, with little oversight and fewer protections for women and girls.

In just 39 short words, Amendment 4 would do three things: legalize unlimited abortions up to birth, eliminate the requirement for parental consent when minors seek abortions, and eliminate essential safety requirements for abortion providers. While some will applaud its brevity, this is not the kind of legislation that protects our most vulnerable citizens.

The real problem we have to take into account with this amendment is the attack on parental rights. Today, Florida law recognizes the critical role parents must play in decisions about their children’s health. Currently, if a minor wishes to have an abortion, her parents must give consent – ​​an appropriate safeguard to ensure that a life-changing decision such as abortion is not made in isolation or under duress. But Amendment 4 would replace this requirement with a much weaker provision: parents would only be notified, not consulted. Imagine this: Your 14-year-old daughter could be taken to an abortion clinic by someone you’ve never met, and you would have no legal authority to intervene once notified.

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These concerns are not just theoretical, but in fact a dangerous reality. By withdrawing parental consent, we are essentially depriving families of the right to guide their daughters through one of the most difficult and life-changing choices of their lives. Parental involvement is not just a formality; it is a necessary protection for young girls who may face pressure from peers, a sexual partner, or even those who may be in a human trafficking situation.

Amendment 4 ignores this reality and undermines the crucial role of parents in protecting their children.

An equally alarming point to consider is the potential impact on the broader health and safety of all women. Florida law currently requires abortions to be performed only by licensed physicians, ensuring a basic standard of medical care. The vague language in Amendment 4, which prohibits any “restriction” on abortion, would eliminate this common-sense requirement, allowing virtually anyone to perform abortions without licensing, training, or supervision. This would open the door for potentially unqualified individuals to perform dangerous procedures, putting women’s lives at risk.

Shockingly, Amendment 4 also eliminates the requirement that ultrasounds be performed before abortions. Without an ultrasound, how can someone accurately determine what stage a patient’s pregnancy is in, or even confirm whether a woman is really pregnant? The answer is chilling: Under this amendment, women would have to trust abortion providers, who have a financial incentive to perform the procedure. What this amendment promotes is not health care; this is negligence, it’s that simple.

Supporters of Amendment 4 argue that it is about protecting women’s rights. But the truth is that this amendment will jeopardize the safety of women because it removes the very safeguards that protect their health. Abortions performed by unlicensed individuals, without proper medical supervision, or without clarity about how far a pregnancy can last are reminiscent of the stunted abortions of the past. We need to move forward in protecting women’s health, not backwards.

And let’s not forget what this amendment would make possible in practice: late-term abortions up to the moment of birth. The state of Florida already allows abortion in cases of rape, incest, maternal health and serious fetal abnormalities. Amendment 4 is not about addressing rare or difficult cases; it’s about removing all limits on abortion on demand. By allowing late-term abortion without restrictions, we open the door to horrific procedures, including abortion by limb mutilation, on fully viable unborn children.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of abortion, whether you are pro-life, pro-choice, or somewhere in between, this amendment simply goes too far. It is an attack on parental rights, an attack on the safety of underage girls and a step toward dangerous, unregulated medical practices.

It is time to protect our daughters, protect women’s health and defend the rights of parents to be involved in the most crucial decisions affecting their children. Floridians must recognize what is at risk and vote “no” on Amendment 4.