Vote NO on Florida Amendment 4 in 2024
Earlier this year I wrote about the latest regarding pro-life laws in the state of Florida. I shared information from Dr. William Lile, a Pensacola-based doctor who blogs and writes on his site prolifedoc.org extensively.
Earlier today I joined hundreds of pastors, faith leaders, and others on a conference call related to the upcoming vote in Florida regarding our state’s constitutional amendments. Surprisingly, the Florida Supreme Court ruled on April 1, 2024 that voters will vote in November on what is designated as Amendment 4.
A Vital Vote in November
It’s an election year and you, like me, have been inundated with phone calls, mailers, emails, and more regarding candidates and parties and issues. While there are many things that make this year’s election important, for Floridians, Amendment 4 may be the most urgent. It certainly has immediate ramifications.
As an unapologetic pro-life, life begins at conception voter, I strongly oppose this amendment and encourage others to consider voting no on it as well.
This is truly not a political issue (though at some point, everything seems to eventually become political) but at the core a moral issue.
For decades pro-lifers and anti-abortion advocates fought, rightly so, for the overturn of Roe v. Wade. What seemed like the finish line of a long race when the US Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 with what is now called “The Dobbs Case” has proven to be just the completion of a lap as the race continues.
One person stated it well, “Pro-lifers were not prepared for life after Dobbs.”
That has proven true as state-centric battles have resulted in what was viewed by some to be pro-life states into abortion havens.
This is what Floridians face now. Amendment 4, titled “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion” is written with intentionally deceptive (my opinion) and mild language focused on confusing some voters into approving something they may be against.
The summary statement of the proposed amendment states:
No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.
Words Matter
At first glance, many would say “Okay, that sounds fair.” Many love the words in the title “Limit Government” for obvious reasons. To limit government may resonate with many. However, a closer look at the verbiage reveals what is truly at stake.
The legalese is thick and the reader and voter should take time to read and think through this prior to going into the voting booth.
The website tooextremeforfl.com explains this so well and I have included the graphic from that site here so that you can immediately see the loopholes and deceptive wording.
From tooextremeforfl.com
Ultimately, what voting yes on this will do is make Florida an ABORTION TOURISM DESTINATION. This will legalize abortion up to birth, eliminating the six-week ban currently on the books, not to mention the parental notification guideline. With the phrase “patient’s health” given with no descriptors, anything that causes distress, concern, or stress will be considered “health” related. One person says they have heard the term “financial health” used in this way meaning if a woman gave birth to a baby, the financial burden would effectively cause a burden on her “financial health.” Thus, by this definition, abortion up to birth would be viable.
Currently in Florida only medical doctors can perform abortions. The term “healthcare provider” as written opens the door for others as described in the graphic.
There’s more to consider, but not less.
This is a deceptively worded amendment, and lives truly are at stake. I encourage all Floridians to vote NO on Amendment 4 this fall.
