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Lawmaker Files Fetal Pain Bill Banning Abortions After 20 Weeks

Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota).
Florida House of Representatives
Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota).
Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota).
Credit Florida House of Representatives
Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota).

A Florida Republican has filed a measure prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks.  The proposal is part of a larger trend of so-called fetal pain legislation.

Under current law, Florida’s bans abortions after 24 weeks unless the mother’s life is endangered.  The cut-off is tied to a generally accepted point at which the fetus is viable outside the womb.  But Rep. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) is trying to advance the prohibition by about a month.  He says fetuses can feel pain at 20 weeks, and so abortions after that point should be banned.  But many researchers reject his claim.  If Florida approves the bill it will join fifteen other states with similar laws on the books.  

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Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.
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