Florida GOP demand women show proof of rape to get an exception under new 6-week abortion law

[Comrade Funk]

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-florida-abortion-bill-rape-exception-20230309-xwyvkk5tm5aa3gdslvqrvkdtou-story.html

TALLAHASSEE — Floridians who are raped would need to show evidence of that crime if they want an exception under the Legislature’s proposed six-week abortion ban, a requirement that advocates say would traumatize victims of sexual violence even more.

Victims of rape or incest would have to provide a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record or court document to obtain an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Rape and incest exceptions would end at 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The paperwork requirement would further distress rape victims, who often don’t file reports with law enforcement and the authorities, said Kim S. Ménard, a Penn State Altoona criminal justice professor who studies sexual violence.

Jennifer Dritt, executive director of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, said lawmakers didn’t consult with her group representing 29 rape crisis centers across the state when crafting the bill’s language.

“It demonstrates a complete lack of understanding that most victims of sexual assault don’t report,” she said. “This exception is meaningless, and it is harmful.”

Only about 20% of rapes and sexual assaults are reported to police, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn’t committed to signing the six-week abortion ban but said he found the exceptions “sensible” and that he wants to sign additional anti-abortion legislation.

Central Florida’s rape crisis center counseled 326 rape victims in crisis in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties during the 2021-22 fiscal year, 14% of which hadn’t reported their rape to law enforcement, said Lui Damiani, executive director of the Victim Service Center of Central Florida.

Lawmakers should consider what the paperwork requirements could mean for rape victims, he said.

“Some of the highest levels of PTSD are associated with victims of sexual violence,” Damiani said. “Reliving those experiences and those triggers is part of the reason clients nine years after the event are coming and seeking our services. Retraumatizing victims is definitely something we don’t want to do.”

[7,052,770]

I believe this is the case in Mississippi. Of course there aren't any abortion providers in the state anyway, so it's a moot point, but the rape exception theoretically exists if there is sufficient documentation.

[OSR stands with Israel]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

[Skill and Chance]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

Wasn't the GOP leader of the state senate originally going to send him a 12 week limit?  What happened with that idea?  He would get to say he moved the law more pro-life but also keep it more in line with average views in Florida. 

Florida has constitutional amendments by initiative, but they have to get 60% to pass.  I wonder if this would get overturned anyway? 

[DaleCooper]

Never vote Republican.

[Ferguson97]

Republicans are monsters. DeSantis has previously signaled that he is open to a six week ban. I wouldn't be shocked if he signed this.

[Skill and Chance]

Republicans are monsters. DeSantis has previously signaled that he is open to a six week ban. I wouldn't be shocked if he signed this.

If he does, how do you think the referendum would go in 2024?

[Ferguson97]

Republicans are monsters. DeSantis has previously signaled that he is open to a six week ban. I wouldn't be shocked if he signed this.

If he does, how do you think the referendum would go in 2024?

It would be put to a referendum, even if he already passed it?

I think that such a referendum would get like 75% oppose, 25% support.

[BG-NY (permanently retired)]

This is why republicans lose elections.

[Skill and Chance]

Republicans are monsters. DeSantis has previously signaled that he is open to a six week ban. I wouldn't be shocked if he signed this.

If he does, how do you think the referendum would go in 2024?

It would be put to a referendum, even if he already passed it?

I think that such a referendum would get like 75% oppose, 25% support.

Well, what I mean is that Florida has constitutional amendments by ballot initiative, so voters could propose whatever abortion cutoff they want and go around the legislature, but they would have to get a ton of signatures and it would have to get >60% of the vote.  Note the more pro-choice than Roe Michigan measure did not get 60% in a more liberal state, but I imagine reverting to the 15 week limit would get 60% in Florida.

[darklordoftech]

This is why republicans lose elections.

[หมูเด้ง]

Let’s go Dennis?

[7,052,770]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

Personally I think someone who wants the job of President of the United States should be a decisive leader and not the type to just hope other people give him an out to not have to take a position on a key controversial issue.

And I would also hope that DeSantis will give us his real honest opinion on the issue, whatever that may be, and not something based solely on what he thinks will play to the voters best.

[OSR stands with Israel]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

Personally I think someone who wants the job of President of the United States should be a decisive leader and not the type to just hope other people give him an out to not have to take a position on a key controversial issue.

And I would also hope that DeSantis will give us his real honest opinion on the issue, whatever that may be, and not something based solely on what he thinks will play to the voters best.

You don’t need to take decisive action on every issue . You have to prioritize and that is something most successful leaders do , and it’s something Reagan was excellent at . He knew when to go in blazing and when to keep his powder dry and that’s why he was so successful

[Skill and Chance]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

Personally I think someone who wants the job of President of the United States should be a decisive leader and not the type to just hope other people give him an out to not have to take a position on a key controversial issue.

And I would also hope that DeSantis will give us his real honest opinion on the issue, whatever that may be, and not something based solely on what he thinks will play to the voters best.

This.  If you sincerely believe you are preventing someone from being killed, you wouldn't care what the majority view is.  You would dare them to try and stop you.   

[VBM]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

DeSantis should hope that something kills this bill because it’s morally wrong.

[100% pro-choice no matter what]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

DeSantis should hope that something kills this bill because it’s morally wrong.

When has the GOP ever cared about a morality that doesn't include killing gay/trans kids?

[TheReckoning]

This is a good law, if it helps encourage rape victims to make reports to police.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

This is a good law, if it helps encourage rape victims to make reports to police.

You mean, it FORCES rape victims to make reports to police? Surely, you don't think that in every single context, that's a good thing?

What if you were in some sort of situation where somebody did something illegal to you, but you wanted to use your freedom of choice to just move on and forget it? Should the government be FORCING you to make it a police matter?

[TheReckoning]

This is a good law, if it helps encourage rape victims to make reports to police.

You mean, it FORCES rape victims to make reports to police? Surely, you don't think that in every single context, that's a good thing?

Well, maybe not every context, but in a vast majority, it is. Members of society have an obligation to keep their society safe- that includes reporting violent crimes when they happen, as the alternative is to let dangerous criminals run amok.

That’s not to say a women not reporting her rape is a moral failure at all, but I would say it’s a civil failure.

[Ferguson97]

DeSantis should hope that something happens that kills this bill as otherwise it’s gonna hurt him either way . He signs it and it will hurt his chances  in the rust belt  , he doesn’t and it hurts him in a GOP Primary .

Personally I think someone who wants the job of President of the United States should be a decisive leader and not the type to just hope other people give him an out to not have to take a position on a key controversial issue.

And I would also hope that DeSantis will give us his real honest opinion on the issue, whatever that may be, and not something based solely on what he thinks will play to the voters best.

This.  If you sincerely believe you are preventing someone from being killed, you wouldn't care what the majority view is.  You would dare them to try and stop you.   

I think that this is one of the main reasons why voters don't trust the GOP on abortion. Oh sure, you think abortion is murder - but you're totally fine if it's happening in California? Uh uh. Sure.

[7,052,770]

It would definitely be a good thing to have a higher % of rapes reported, but I don't think anyone on the pro-choice side has any trust in Republicans that this isn't going to turn into a "delay boondoggle" to demand more and more proof that's hard to obtain in order to push the victim past past the 15 week barrier.

[Ferguson97]

This is a good law, if it helps encourage rape victims to make reports to police.

No it won't. If anything, it will make them LESS likely to report it to the police

[Trump Is A Maoist]

It would definitely be a good thing to have a higher % of rapes reported, but I don't think anyone on the pro-choice side has any trust in Republicans that this isn't going to turn into a "delay boondoggle" to demand more and more proof that's hard to obtain in order to push the victim past past the 15 week barrier.

Most women don't even know they're pregnant until 5 weeks in. A 6 week ban, for all practical purposes, is ALMOST a total ban on abortion.

[Skill and Chance]

It would definitely be a good thing to have a higher % of rapes reported, but I don't think anyone on the pro-choice side has any trust in Republicans that this isn't going to turn into a "delay boondoggle" to demand more and more proof that's hard to obtain in order to push the victim past past the 15 week barrier.

Most women don't even know they're pregnant until 5 weeks in. A 6 week ban, for all practical purposes, is ALMOST a total ban on abortion.

However, I would think those greatly concerned about this would proactively seek out medical tests that could identify a pregnancy as close to day 1 as possible? 

IMO 6 weeks is the only rational beginning of life position between conception or birth, because fetal heartbeat.