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Abortion ultrasound bill goes to Crist

by Dara Kam | April 30th, 2010

Florida lawmakers gave final approval to a contentious abortion bill that would require pregnant women to have an ultrasound before an abortion after nearly four hours of at time tearful, disturbing debate.

The measure passed by a 76-44 vote and is now headed to Gov. Charlie Crist.

Only a single Republican spoke against the measure, Rep. Ed Homan, R-Temple Terrace, a physician.

Speaking against the measure, Rep. Scott Randolph gave an emotional account of his and his wife’s experience with abortion after three ultrasounds found that the fetus would die.

“The ultrasound machine’s right next to that bed where my wife is laying looking at this fetus and she’s having to cry and ask and demand that that ultrasound machine be turned in the other direction because she can’t see it anymore,” said Randolph, D-Orlando, crying freely.

“And this bill would say no, we’re going to demand that one more time, when you go in to finally terminate that pregnancy because God and fate and nature have told you that not this time, you’re not going to have the child this time, that you see that ultrasound or that you be told what’s on that screen. You can demand that it be turned away but you’re still going to have to listen to the description of what’s there,” he went on.

Randolph hammered on the Democrat’s objections that forcing the ultrasounds contradicts Republicans’ belief in smaller government.

“Six years ago this legislature wanted government so small that it could fit down a tube into an individual woman’s throat named Terri Schiavo,” Randolph said. :And this year you’re wanting government so small that it can fit between a woman’s legs and into her uterus.”

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27 Responses to “Abortion ultrasound bill goes to Crist”

  1. FloridityNow Says:

    Florida: the “Up Yours” state.

  2. Eric Says:

    I don’t see how this law can reasonably be put in place when there is no medical necessity for the ultrasound to be performed.

  3. me Says:

    A woman has a right to have an abortion, but they need to know there is a real human being with a beating heart inside of her. If she knows the truth, she can make the best decision for herself. Hopefully women will chose placing their child up for adoption instead of going through the pain of abortion.

  4. melody Says:

    Why does government not step in and support women against religious dogma prohibiting birth control usage if abortion is unacceptable? What alternative is provided to women in a world that improves the ‘function’ of old mens ability to create more children?

  5. Cannot Wait to Leave Says:

    Hosea 13:16

    “Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.”

    Yes sir, God shore do love himself some baby killin’.

  6. da_truth Says:

    I thought this legislative session was supposed to be all about the economy and job creation. Just more lies from our backwards backwoods legislature in Tallahassee.

  7. HM Says:

    I don’t EVER want to hear another conservative whining about others ‘forcing their morals’ on them.

    I have real problems with abortion….but this law is nothing more than the product of a lot of bored Nazi housewives who have taken it upon themselves to tell the rest of us how to live. I hope their kids turn into lesbian athiest Democrats with green hair.

  8. Big Pete Says:

    If Crist vetoes bill, he will win Senatorial race…BTW, Florida sucks big time

  9. JGP Says:

    I guess I just don’t see how a bill that gives women MORE scientific medical information is somehow “forcing morals” upon someone.

    I think there is greater harm in withholding medical information from women than in providing it to them.

    Women should have access to greatest amount of medical information possible before making a decision about any medical procedure.

  10. Shannon Says:

    Personally I think its a great idea. In some cases where a baby may have a terminal illness it does suck, but at least girls can’t just run in and get an abortion cuz “oops, I got knocked up”. Its murder. GOD decides who does and doesn’t die…not us. Abortion has become a “means to an end” that people freely go “do”. Its about time someone does something about that!!!

  11. JGP Says:

    “I don’t see how this law can reasonably be put in place when there is no medical necessity for the ultrasound to be performed.”

    They require patients to watch a video AND go to a psychologist before getting Lap-Band surgery to lose weight. The requirement to view an ultrasound before having an abortion seems very minimal by comparison.

  12. M Says:

    Horrible piece of legislation, I really hope he vetoes it. There is no medical necessity and it adds additional medical risk to an already bad situation.

  13. V Says:

    Hopefully, Crist will continue to show common sense in dealing with this facist congress and veto this bill too.

    Shannon,
    If God decides, She can do it without an ultrasound.

  14. natinstl Says:

    JGP-If I want more medical information I’ll ask for it, just like anyone else would, but I shouldn’t have it imposed upon me. This law is grossly intrusive and I hope it doesn’t pass.

  15. GOD Says:

    God creates man, man creates abortion. Who gives a F*ck

  16. Confused Says:

    Mind you these are the same GOP idiots who do not want government deciding what type of healthcare you can have. I think all the GOP idiots live in Bizarro Land!

  17. Heya Says:

    This is ridiculous! So if a woman is raped she has to hear the heart of a baby that she will be forced to terminate???
    This has all the magic of religion all over it. I am sick and tired of it!

  18. Cornie Says:

    uhhh hello! If a woman is having an abortion I am sure she knows there is a freeking fetus inside. Can anyone guess who is going to flip the bill?

  19. E Says:

    Lets spend some more money on ridiculous things. WHO is supposed to pay for these Mandatory Ultrasounds? Insurance? what if you dont have insurance? Then the rest of the tax paying citizens?
    Just plain stupid.

    Hey Fl lawmakers…how about dealing with more important concerns regarding Floridian health care etc….

  20. OBIWAN Says:

    FLORIDA last year:

    200,000 Live Births…
    …105,349 borne out of wedlock…
    … 94,775 Paternity ID’s made as required by TANF…
    … 100,568 Paternity ID’s open…

    93,000 Legal Abortions “recorded”…

    DOR collects 10% of court ordered child support from ID’d fathers… only $506 a year @ child…

    DOR collects 1.1 Million total child support cases = $1.4 Billion… $1,272 a year per child or about 30% of court order…

    50% of poverty in PBC is single women with children under age 5…

    HELLO FLORIDA?? We got problems that only family value parenting CAN solve!!!

    IF you don’t intend to feed ‘em, DON’T breed ‘em…………..

  21. Its Stephen Says:

    So if a pregnant woman can’t afford the over priced ultra-sound, I assume that the tax payers have to pick up most of the cost for either the ultra-sound or the cost of welfare for these children. I thought the right wanted less Government?

  22. Outlaws Says:

    I agree with HM keep your religion out of my life.The real scam is they do not adopt the unwanted results.They say they don’t have too.Their minister told them so.This nazi mentality will kick them in the butt when its something they want to do and the law says no.I think hair dye should be outlawed because it makes you stupid.Do you know how many women would hate that one?

  23. fed up Says:

    yep lets make it more difficult, its already a difficult decision.
    And if the gov’t, on behalf of religion (wait aren’t they supposed to be kept separate???) keeps making it more difficult cause they have failed to ban it, then it will still be done, coat hangers, beatings, drugs all the things that have been used by women throughout history.

  24. Shannon Says:

    ok first of all, if you guys click on a related link above theres more to this article—if you prove you were raped or co erced your exept from this….

    2nd-if people don’t want babies..DON’T HAVE SEX!!!! How much easier can it be….just because its fun, doesn’t mean if you screw up you can just “get rid of it”

    3rd—like it or not…religion has everything to do with it…God DOES choose….just like he CHOSE to take my 4 yr old dughter home with Him last year….some of you who may have experienced the loss of a child-like myself- are repulsed by peoples lack of care and judgement when they want to throw out(dismember, shred to pieces…however you want to word it) the one thing that some of us yearn for. I mean Google abortion and read up and look at the photos of what they do to these babies…babies CAN feel…and the people that think they can’t are clearl “pro-choice”

    I sit here holding my 2 month old boy wanting to cry at the thought of what he would have felt if I aborted him. And it sickens me to read how many people out there are not only supportive of this, but also how many don’t believe in God. I don’t preach to people-much less like being preached to, I only point out the obvious…cuz one day HE will return, and when that day comes I think alot of people will be surprised….but it is His choice

    I hope this bill doesn’t get veto’d and that it does go through. I truly think it will teach people something, and at a $400 cost, but maybe its what this world needs.
    Ok i’ve said my part…for those of you who think i’m crazy and disagree…i’m sorry you feel that way…and for those who do agree…good for you! We need more like us

  25. Cannot Wait to Leave Says:

    Shannon,

    Hosea 13:16

    Your god shore do love himself some fetus killing. So, a woman can just get rid of it. You need to read you book of fairy tales because abortion is not just a choice, its required. Those who disagree with you are simply more moral than your sadistic stupid deity.

  26. Myra Says:

    This is ludicrous.

    What is wrong with many of you? This is not about what makes you feel more comfortable. Its what can empower every patient to make a more proper decision. Many here assume that less knowledge, and information, provides for better choice…when it is the other way around. Initially, the less we know may make us FEEL better, but in the long run it only hurts us and always end up being our worst decisions. This issue is FIRST AND FOREMOST about PATIENT RIGHTS and informed consent.

    Working in the medical field, I have seen way too many people want to just sign a paper so they can leave an Emergecy Room Against Medical Advice(AMA). However, an AMA is not authentic unless the physician thoroughly explains potential risks and reasons why the physician desires further testing and/or admission.

    Sure it is easy to avoid the test or “just have the procedure” done without hearing the risks. But this is only temporary; eventually everything catches up and with regard to abortion many women find out too late that what they were told was only a glob of tissue would truly be what they would have concidered a human being. Regreting their decision years afterward.

    Now, if a woman decided to continue an abortion dispite full consent well she can proceed according to the Law. However, should some women have a change of heart then they have made such a decision only after proper and full disclosure which is the right thing to do.

    The lone individuals that stand to loose are the abortionist and the abortion lobby which will certainly loose several customers with full disclosure of all the potential consecquences of abortion and realization that “it” is not just what the abortion mill nurse told them was simply a “glob of tissue”. That is their biggest fear- that large numbers of women may change their mind and thus they would loose a significant amount of revenue. The present policy of “KEEP THEM STUPID’ is an insult to the dignity of all women as any decision made with anything less than full disclosure is certainly not an authentic choice, but a truly rather disengenuous and tyranical LIE : persuading women to do something they otherwise would not do by withholding appropriate and objective evidence provided with an ultrasound.

  27. rachael Says:

    most women dont know that babies have heartbeats so soon, they are told that it’s just a sack of cells. babies feel pain and don’t deserve to be pulled apart because you dont feel like dealing with it. a woman who wants to abort should have to see the baby that she will murder. and yes it’s murder. if you were raped thats no escuse you will have to deal with that the rest of your life why add murderer? if your baby has a small chance of living i understand not seeing an u/s but if your a girl who sleeps around and uses abortion as birth control than you need to see what your about to do.

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