Florida Moves to Make Teens the Brood Mares for the Adoption Industry
Another one of those just when you think it can’t get any worse… Florida HB 1449 and its companion SB 2446. Under the rubric of family friendly “parental consent,” these bills are designed to create more obstacles for teenage women seeking abortions. The Miami Herald reports: The measure would require a judge to determine by the elevated standard of “clear and convincing evidence” that a minor is “sufficiently mature” to choose termination. Another provision prevents so-called judge shopping by requiring a pregnant girl to make the petition only at the local courthouse; requires a parent’s signature get notarized for consent; and allows longer delays, up to three weeks, for final approval. These provisions, are clearly intended to create even greater state ownership of the female body than already exists in Florida. If that is possible. Once normalized with teens, this ownership will eventually extend to legally adult women, who as we know, are all too stupid or “dangerous” to be trusted to handle their pregnancies in a private and autonomous manner without the supervision of the state. But hold on! There’s more! Last Tuesday, a really really really special provision was added to the House version taking women a few Continue Reading →