Florida’s 6-week abortion ban starts this week, residents seek alternatives

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FLORIDA’S 6-WEEK ABORTION BAN TAKES EFFECT WEDNESDAY, AFTER THE STATE’S SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE LAW EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THE STATE CURRENTLY HAS A 15-WEEK BAN IN PLACE.

THE LAW SIGNED BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS LAST APRIL DOES OFFER EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE, INCEST, AND TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

CANDACE DYE IS THE OWNER OF “A WOMAN’S WORLD MEDICAL CENTER” IN FLORIDA AND SAYS THEY’VE BEEN BUSY TURNING PEOPLE AWAY FOR THEIR SERVICES.

[CANDACE DYE / OWNER, A WOMAN’S WORLD MEDICAL CENTER]
“AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW THIS IS GOING ON. WE TOLD PATIENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN YESTERDAY – OR POTENTIAL PATIENTS YESTERDAY – THEY HAD NO IDEA. SO THEN THEY SCRAMBLE. CAN YOU GET ME IN THIS WEEKEND? CAN YOU GET ME IN THIS WEEKEND? CAN YOU GET ME IN THIS WEEKEND?”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THOUSANDS OF WOMEN MAY NOW HAVE TO TRAVEL TO OTHER STATES TO SEEK AN ABORTION – AS MOST ARE NOT AWARE THEY’RE PREGNANT AT 6-WEEKS INTO A PREGNANCY.

SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURN ROE V WADE IN 2022 – 11 SOUTHERN STATES HAVE EITHER COMPLETELY BANNED – OR IMPOSED STRICT LIMITS – FOR THE PROCEDURE.

ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, TEXAS, ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE, AND KENTUCKY HAVE ALL BANNED ABORTION.

GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA BOTH HAVE A 6-WEEK LIMIT IN PLACE.

WHILE NORTH CAROLINA HAS A 12-WEEK LIMIT IN PLACE.

ACCORDING TO DATA OBTAINED BY THE GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE – ON AVERAGE – THERE WERE JUST OVER 7-THOUSAND ABORTIONS PERFORMED EACH MONTH IN FLORIDA IN 2023. AND 93-HUNDRED WOMEN TRAVELED TO FLORIDA THAT YEAR TO SEEK AN ABORTION.

[FLORIDA GOV. RON DESANTIS]

“WE DON’T WANT TO BE AN ABORTION TOURISM DESTINATION”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

DESANTIS SAID LAST YEAR.

FLORIDAIANSWILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON A BALLOT MEASURE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THE 6-WEEK BAN IN PLACE THIS NOVEMBER. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE THE CHANCE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO AMEND THE STATE’S CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT ABORTION RIGHTS.

THE BALLOT MEASURE WILL NEED 60% SUPPORT TO PASS.