Is Florida the Most Pro-Life State?

Families, communities, and nations are stronger when they protect life from conception to natural death. Unborn babies have received more protection in the past year than they have had for nearly fifty years. The reason for the greater protection was the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that affirmed a constitutional right to abortion.

The court decision came as the result of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (JWHO). On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Court ruled that there is no constitutional right to abortion, and this decision overturned Roe v. Wade. It also gave permission for states to ban or restrict the procedure. The new ruling brought riots as well as legal, political, and moral conflicts about the right to have an abortion.

The Supreme Court may see another case about abortion in a few years. Mary Margaret Olohan reported at The Daily Signal that Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a heartbeat bill that bans abortion in Florida as soon as a heartbeat can be detected. The Heartbeat Protection Act prohibits doctors from “knowingly performing” an abortion on any unborn baby with a detectable heartbeat. However, the law provides exceptions if the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or human trafficking. In addition to banning later abortions, the new law provides more resources for young mothers and families. 

Fewer abortions will be the result of the new law in Florida just as the overturning of Roe v. Wade saved the lives of many unborn babies. However, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion organizations and individuals are still fighting back. The abortion issue received credit for stopping the Red Wave in the 2022 mid-term elections, and it could be an issue in the 2024 presidential election. Pro-life advocates must be wise enough to understand that there should be room for exceptions. They must be strong enough to stand firm and smart enough to advocate for pro-life issues. By doing so, they can strengthen families, communities, and nations.