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Florida senate slammed for passing 15-week abortion ban with NO exceptions for rape and incest!

Florida's Republican-led Senate voted to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, rejecting Democratic attempts to add exceptions for rape, incest, and human trafficking

Florida's Republican-led Senate voted to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, rejecting Democratic attempts to add exceptions for rape, incest, and human trafficking on Thursday, March 3. The move will restrict access to abortion in Florida and will put it one step closer to adopting a gestational limit, which is currently under review by the US Supreme Court. 

The Senators sent the bill to Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who is expected to sign the bill into law. Governor's spokesperson Christina Pushaw said, "Governor DeSantis is pro-life and has voiced support for the concepts in this bill." Florida's bill would take effect July 1, if approved. The enactment of the bill would severely restrict access to late-term abortions for women across the US Southeast, many of whom travel hundreds of miles to end pregnancies in Florida because of stricter abortion laws in surrounding states. 

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Florida currently permits abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy without a mandatory waiting period, meaning a woman can terminate her pregnancy the day she arrives at a clinic. The state's measure makes exceptions to the 15-week restriction only in cases when the mother is at risk of death or "irreversible physical impairment", or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. No exceptions for rape or incest are included. Arizona's Senate and West Virginia's House passed similar 15-week abortion bans last month.

Meanwhile, Netizens on Twitter criticized Florida for its stance to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. One wrote, "As predicted, the Florida legislature voted to ban abortion after 15 weeks, similar to the MS law before the SCOTUS. This is rolling the timeline back from their previous 24 week ban and aligns the state with neighboring states with similar, or more restrictive bans." Another added, "If abortions are banned at 15 weeks of gestation, the amendment proposed in the Florida Senate by Tina Polsky, D-Palm Beach, would require the father of the child to start paying child support as soon as abortions are no longer legal." A third remarked, "F**k Florida. Just don’t get pregnant and have a miscarriage or other complications that would require an abortion."

"So republicans support forced births of "rape, incest, human trafficking and mental health" cases after 15 weeks! Truly pathetic!" a fourth commented. A fifth added, "Florida passed a 15 week abortion ban, with no exceptions. JFC, I fucking hate this state!!."

Author Josh Sabarra tagging Member of Florida State Senate wrote, "@kellistargel (ugly inside & out) and the horrid state of #Florida should be ashamed of themselves. I’m embarrassed to have been born there & am disgusted by their latest #abortion ban bill. I’m donating all March author royalties from ENEMIES CLOSER to @PPFA," with the hashtag PlannedParenthood.