REGARDLESS OF SCOTUS, THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IS HERE TO STAY IN FLORIDA

Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas is telling those concerned that the likely confirmation of John Roberts as the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court would mean the overturning of Roe -vs- Wade not to worry...at least in Florida.

He believes that even if Roberts provides the vote to overturn the 32 year old decision, it simply means that the decision on a woman's right to choose will be fought on the state level once again. In Florida, making abortions illegal would be difficult because of the privacy clause added to the state constitution in 1980 which specifically spells out a right to privacy not done in the U.S. Constitution.

Those opposing abortion could continue trying to chip away at abortion rights through legislation. But this has brought more failures than success, as the courts often block their efforts.

The only way to get a ban is to amend the 1980 privacy amendment. That was done last year when voters approved a parental-notification amendment.

An attempt at an outright ban was considered in 1989 when religious activists contemplated putting a fetus-rights amendment on the ballot.

That was a fiasco and eventually was a factor in Martinez' defeat for reelection.