Proposed Florida Bill Would Charge Abortion Providers with First-Degree Felonies

by Roxann MtJoy · 2010-02-23 06:00:00 UTC
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Florida, Florida, Florida. What am I going to do with you? You lure me in with your beautiful beaches and warm weather, but you push me away with your homophobia and your latest proposed anti-choice bill. HB 1097, otherwise known as the "Florida for Life Act," is sponsored by Representative Charles Van Sant and would criminalize abortion. This law would directly challenge the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade. Oh, and it would make no exception for cases of rape or incest.

What I find particularly interesting about this anti-choice bill is that it punishes the abortion providers, not the patients. If this bill becomes law, then a person performing abortions would be charged with a first-degree felony, punishable by up to life in prison. As Jessica over at Feministing suggests, this "punish the provider, not the patient" philosophy seems to stem from the popular anti-choice sentiment that women are victims of abortions, not well-informed, active participants in the process. In that scenario, abortion providers are like the Big Bad Wolf preying on innocent Little Red Riding Hood, which is insulting to women on many levels.

I realize that the assault on a woman's right to choose will never end. Truly, I get that. Yet the many forms this assault takes continually amazes me, whether it be something like this Florida bill or the 40 Days for Life campaign or the murder of Dr. Tiller last year. I can't understand how I am supposed to be swayed by a movement that devalues me as a woman, harasses law-abiding citizens, and applauds violence. While I may never defeat this anti-choice sentiment, I do hope Florida can at least defeat this anti-choice bill.

Photo credit: Skirsner

Roxann MtJoy is a freelance writer who previously worked as a case manager at a domestic violence shelter. She is currently attending graduate school for theater in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
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