Lee County Commissioners in Florida voted four to one to pass a resolution formally opposing Amendment 4, the state’s ballot measure proposal that would enshrine the “right” to abortion into the Florida state constitution. According to Florida Right to Life, this is the sixth county to pass such a resolution opposing Amendment 4; other counties to have passed resolutions include Gilchrist, Bradford, and Oskaloosa.
In the Lee County resolution, which is largely symbolic, the county commissioners stated, “[T]he language of the proposed amendment [Amendment 4] is vague, deceptive, and over broad and would strike already enacted protections instituted by the State of Florida by broadening the definition of healthcare providers to those not medically licensed, and allowing the life of the unborn to be taken right up to the moment of birth.”
Board members Mike Greenwell, Kevin Ruane, Cecil Pendergrass, and Brian Hamman voted in favor of the resolution, while Ray Sandelli voted against it.
Greenwell said the resolution is meant to get the community’s attention so that citizens are more aware of what they’re actually voting on this November. “This resolution does not change anyone’s ability to vote. It simply would be a resolution saying, ‘Please read it. Please look at it.’ I think the language is vague for a reason, and I would not consider myself a leader if I didn’t stand up,” he explained.
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Members of the community came out both to support and oppose the resolution, resulting in a heated debate. One citizen pointed out that the ballot measure purports to keep parents involved in a child’s decision to get an abortion, but importantly, that language only requires parental notification, not consent.
“The amendment touts that parents would be involved in the decision, but the amendment only requires notification. Notification is not consent,” said Robert Roper, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Alva. “Imagine a child that calls her mom from a different city and says ‘Hi, mom. I’m at the abortion clinic. Goodbye.’”
Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka and State Sen. Johnathan Martin warned that the amendment’s passage would result in state-funded abortion.
“If you don’t believe in using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion then you should vote no on 4,” said Persons-Mulicka.
Currently, nearly all preborn children in the state are protected from abortion after about six weeks. If this ballot measure passes, that law would likely be quickly overturned.
Voters will decide on the amendment on November 5.
