As Floridians prepare to vote on Amendment 4 in November, it is essential to understand what is really at stake. This amendment is not just about abortion: it is a radical measure that would eliminate parental rights and seriously endanger the health and safety of women and minor girls. If Amendment 4 passes, Florida will become one of the most extreme pro-abortion states in the nation: a destination for unregulated and unsafe abortions, with little oversight and fewer protections for women and girls.

In just 39 short words, Amendment 4 would do three things: legalize abortions without restrictions up to the moment of birth, eliminate the requirement for parental consent when minors seek abortions, and eliminate essential safety regulations for health care providers. abortion. While some may applaud its brevity, this is not the type of legislation that protects our most vulnerable citizens.

The real issue one must consider with this amendment is the attack on parental rights. Today, Florida law recognizes the critical role parents must play in their children’s health decisions. If a minor seeks an abortion, her parents must currently provide consent, an appropriate safeguard to ensure that a life-altering decision, such as abortion, is not made in isolation or under duress. But Amendment 4 would replace this requirement with a much weaker provision: Parents would simply be notified, not consulted. Imagine this: Your 14-year-old daughter could be taken to an abortion clinic by someone she has never met, and you would have no legal power to intervene once you are notified.

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These concerns are not just theoretical but are, in fact, a dangerous reality. By eliminating parental consent, we are essentially stripping families of their right to guide their daughters through one of the most difficult and consequential decisions of their lives. Parent involvement is not just a formality; It is a necessary protection for girls who may be facing pressure from peers, a sexual partner, or even those who may be in trafficking situations.

Amendment 4 ignores these realities and undermines the critical role of parents in protecting their children.

An equally alarming point to consider is the potential consequences for the overall health and safety of all women. Currently, Florida law requires that abortions be performed only by licensed physicians, ensuring a basic level of medical care. The vague language contained in Amendment 4, which prohibits any “restrictions” on abortion, would eliminate this common-sense requirement, allowing virtually anyone to perform abortions without licensing, training or supervision. This would open the door for potentially unqualified people to administer dangerous procedures, putting women’s lives at risk.

Surprisingly, Amendment 4 also eliminates the requirement to perform ultrasounds before abortions. Without an ultrasound, how can anyone accurately determine what stage their patient’s pregnancy is in, or even confirm if a woman is actually pregnant? The answer is chilling: Under this amendment, women would have to trust abortion providers, who have a financial incentive to perform the procedure. What this amendment promotes is not health care: it is negligence, plain and simple.

Supporters of Amendment 4 argue that it is about protecting women’s rights. But the truth is that this amendment will jeopardize women’s safety by eliminating the very safeguards that protect their health. Abortions performed by people without a license, without adequate medical supervision, or without clarity about how far along a pregnancy can be, are reminiscent of clandestine abortions of the past. We should be moving forward in protecting women’s health, not backwards.

And let’s not forget what this amendment would allow in practice: late abortions up to the moment of birth. The State of Florida already allows abortion in cases of rape, incest, maternal health and serious fetal anomalies. Amendment 4 is not about addressing rare or difficult cases; It is about removing all limits on abortion on demand. By allowing late-term abortion without restrictions, we are opening the door to horrific procedures, including dismemberment abortions, on fully viable unborn children.

No matter where you stand on the issue of abortion, whether you are pro-life, pro-choice, or somewhere in between, this amendment simply goes too far. It is an attack on parental rights, an attack on the safety of underage girls, and a step toward dangerous and unregulated medical practices.

It’s time to protect our daughters, safeguard women’s health, and defend fathers’ right to participate in the most critical decisions affecting their children. Floridians must recognize what is at risk and vote “No” on Amendment 4.