State Senator Jay Collins (R-FL) spoke to the media at the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) “Victory Dinner," during an interview The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres, State Sen. Collins said that the Amendment 4 ballot initiative would enshrine the right to an abortion up to viability (although critics say it would allow it up till birth) in the state constitution.
The amendment reads as follows:
“No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”
State Sen. Collins affirmed his pro-life stance to the media, bringing up the notion that he was adopted as a child which helped shape his view on the issue.
“I am – since day one – I am pro-God, I am pro-gun, and I am pro-life. Ultimately, I’m adopted. I have fought to protect children from day one. I think that if you read what is on those pages, it’s frightening. It is unfettered, unregulated, unequivocally wrong,” said State Sen. Collins. “Abortion from anybody. It doesn’t have to be a doctor. It could be anybody performing these things in a medical environment. This is from the first day of viability, all the way to partial-birth abortions. Is frightening. It's scary. We have to stand up for what we believe in. We have to fight for what is right. If we don't do it, nobody will.”
He continued by sharing that “there are no moral victories in life” and that the defeat of Amendment 4 is paramount.
“Ultimately, I'm blessed to have been adopted. I'm blessed to be able to fight for the rights of people who, frankly, can't fight for themselves, and you know, God willing, we defeat this amendment, and we can continue to protect those who really can't protect themselves. We've got to focus on the task at hand. I think often we take our eyes off the prize. This is about winning,” said Collins. “No matter what people say, there are no moral victories in life. It's only about victory. It's only about achieving the results we need to achieve.”
Finally, Collins concluded his statement by saying the country is at stake.
“This nation has lost its identity, and we have continued to lurch to the left. This has been going on for a long time, and if we don't start standing up for and fighting for the task at hand, and winning the battles – every race, every issue – and focus on those things, we're going to lose everything else before we know it. We have to stay focused,” said Collins.
Floridians will have a chance to vote on Amendment 4 on Nov. 5.
