According to a new poll, a majority of Floridians support legislation protecting unborn babies after a heartbeat is detected. A February survey conducted by Ragnar Research found 62 percent of Floridians supported a “heartbeat bill” in the Sunshine State. The SBA Pro-Life America and the Florida Family Policy Council sponsored the poll. It was conducted before Republican lawmakers introduced similar bills in the Florida House and Senate on Tuesday.
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According to the survey, 62 percent of Floridians supported abortion restrictions after a heartbeat had been detected, with exceptions for rape and incest. The heartbeat is usually detected at around six weeks of pregnancy. The proposal was supported by 69 percent of registered republican voters, 54 percent of Democrats, and 51 percent of Independents.
“A majority of voters support protections for life after a baby’s heartbeat is detected… This is true regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or party affiliation,” the report said.
According to Ragnar, support for 6-week heartbeat legislation drastically increased after respondents were presented with more information regarding the development of the fetus. After telling respondents that the heart is the first functioning organ to develop, and that a heartbeat indicates a very high likelihood of survival to childbirth, support moved “by a 2 to 1 margin towards support of the heartbeat bill.”
“When it comes to protecting children in Florida, both born and unborn, we should always do the right thing irrespective of the political consequences,” John Stemberger told Breitbart. Stemberger is president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council. “But it is also good to know that over 60 percent of Floridians want to see an unborn child protected after a detectable heartbeat.”
New poll finds 62% of Floridians support legislation to protect unborn babies when their heartbeat can be detected (with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother)
Includes 61% of Independents, 58% of women & 76% of Hispanic voters https://t.co/NFoI8GRydL
— SBA Pro-Life America (@sbaprolife) March 7, 2023
While the Ragnar poll shows that it is possible to sway voters towards a heartbeat law, political consequences are not out of the question as Florida lawmakers weigh their decision on a recently introduced bill.
Filed on the first day of the Florida legislature’s 2023 session by Sen. Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce), the “Parenting and Pregnancy Support” bill would drop Florida’s current 15-week abortion ban down to six weeks. Florida’s abortion laws were previously reduced to 15 weeks from 24 weeks last year, with the support of Governor DeSantis.
While DeSantis has not offered a firm commitment to signing the latest bill, he signaled at a Tuesday press conference that he was open to it, except for rape, incest, and if the mother’s life were jeopardized.
“I think those exceptions are sensible, And like I said, we welcome pro-life legislation.”
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DeSantis also told reporters in January while discussing plans for the 2023 Florida legislative session. “We’re for pro-life. I urge the legislature to work, produce good stuff, and we will sign.”
The latest proposals in the Florida legislature would also include bans on telemedicine for abortion and would require abortion medication to be dispensed in person by a doctor. Doctors who violate the new laws would receive up to five years in prison.
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