Friends, This past week I had the pleasure of attending a private early showing, thanks to my good friend Senator Kelli Stargel, of the new major motion picture “Unplanned”. The movie tells the true story of Abby Johnson and her dramatic road to conversion from the youngest Planned Parenthood Clinic Director to a leading Pro-Life advocate. This powerful film exposes viewers to the truth of what happens in the abortion industry, and the emotional, physical and mental damage that can trap women (and men) in a prison of pain and guilt. The story also offer its viewers, whether they’ve been touched by abortion or not, a story of love, forgiveness and a hope for our future. Since the passing of Roe v. Wade in 1973, it has been estimated that there have been over 60 million legal abortions in the United States. Even just one is heart wrenching enough for me, but to think that we have extinguished the lives of millions of our own offspring is devastating.
This year, in New York and Virginia, we have seen the far left liberals, under the guise of being “progressive”, take some of the most extreme positions on abortion law that is nothing short of infanticide. However, I am optimistic that these radical proposals are beginning to further open the eyes of the American people to the true agenda of these “progressives”, and the consequences that they will have on our society. In Florida, we have a Governor who is staunchly pro-life and our court system is ripe for new legislation to combat the liberal agenda. Here in the Florida Legislature, there are three big pro-life proposals that I want to highlight for you.
SB 792, also known as the “Heartbeat Bill”, is the legislation that your Senator has filed for this year. Along with a companion bill in the House, filed by Rep. Hill, this legislation would prohibit the termination of a pregnancy once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. SB 792 also requires a physician to perform an examination for, and inform a woman seeking to obtain an abortion of the presence of a fetal heartbeat. I think that this legislation is one that the left fears the most, because it is so real, simple, and convincing. In the history of humankind, the heartbeat has always been the clear signal that life is present. It is a signal that connects us so well to our own human emotion and conscience, because it can be physically seen, felt and heard.
SB 1774, known as the “Parental Consent for Abortion Act”, filed by Senator Stargel, prohibits a physician from performing an abortion on a minor unless the physician has been presented with consent from the minor’s parent or guardian. Your Senator as also co-sponsored this bill.
SB 558, the “Florida Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” filed by Senator Joe Gruters, prohibits a physician from performing the abortion of an unborn child that is deemed capable of feeling of pain. In the bill, an unborn child is defined as being pain capable at 20 weeks post-fertilization.
I am excited about the opportunity that we have to protect innocent life, and each of these pieces of legislation has the potential to make a big difference in our fight against abortion. It is an honor to be your Senator, thank you for allowing me to be “the man in the ring” and for sending me to Tallahassee to protect innocent life.
Onward & Upward,
Dennis Baxley
