A Federal judge today refused to grant a temporary injuction preventing enforcement of Florida's parental notification law for abortions peformed on girls under 18.
In a
CNN report today, it was announced that U.S. District Judge William Stafford refused to stop the enforcement of a Florida state law requiring doctors to notify parents 48 hours before performing an abortion on a woman under 18 years of age, either by a phone call, in person, or by certified mail.
What's really bothersome to me is the rationale expressed for the creation of this law:
Supporters argue the law is needed to restore the rights of parents to be involved in their children's lives.
I don't think anyone is arguing that parents can't be involved in their children's lives. In fact, this goes to the larger point: if your daughter doesn't feel comfortable enough to tell you that (a) she is sexually active, or (b) may be pregnant, then it stands to reason that she's not going to feel comfortable telling you about her plans for an abortion, and that there is probably a good reason NOT to tell you, and maybe your parenting skills are questionable.
Planned Parenthood's case is still alive, however...this was just a temporary injunction they were requesting in the meantime before their suit is heard. But it causes me some concern that the Judge who rejected the injunction said he didn't think they'd be able to win their challenge in the end, and that's why he wouldn't grant the injunction.