Florida governor signs bill banning abortions after 15 weeks into law

WASHINGTON – Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, making Florida the latest state to restrict the medical procedure in most cases.

House Bill 5, the Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act, “protects babies in the womb who have beating hearts, who can move, who can taste, who can see, and who can feel pain,” DeSantis said in a statement.

“Life is a sacred gift worthy of our protection, and I am proud to sign this great piece of legislation which represents the most significant protections for life in the state’s modern history,” he added.

The new law prohibits abortions after a fetus has reached 15 weeks of gestation.

“While other states such as California and Colorado are taking extreme measures against the right to life by passing legislation which denies babies in the womb any rights or protections and provides for unrestricted abortions on demand until the point of birth, Florida continues to move in a pro-life direction,” said the governor.

The new law had sparked anger among several groups, including Planned Parenthood.

The law does not make exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking but defends abortion only to save a mother’s life.

“Banning abortion is not what Floridians want. Every poll shows a majority of Floridians are against a 15-week abortion ban,” said Stephanie Fraim, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida said at the time.

“Floridians want the freedom to make their own private medical decisions, not to be told what to do by politicians,” she said. “This cruel and careless law strips people of the right to control their own bodies and their futures.”

The law takes effect from July 1.