Fetal homicide bill sparks abortion debate (Montana HoR) | Missoulian

[Ediacara]

Fetal homicide bill sparks abortion debate

Posted at 12:30 p.m. January 18
By SARAH COOKE Associated Press Writer

HELENA - A bill that would criminalize killing or injuring a fetus sparked a fierce debate over abortion at a legislative hearing Tuesday, despite assertions by its sponsor that it had nothing to do with terminating a pregnancy.

Rep. Penny Morgan, R-Billings, said her bill was meant to address violence against pregnant women and get justice for the unborn children harmed or killed in the process, such as in the Laci Peterson case in California.

"This is a bigger problem than people have ever realized," she told the House Judiciary Committee.

Opponents called her House Bill 231 a thinly veiled attempt at criminalizing abortion and argued for less complicated options, such as penalty enhancements for crimes against pregnant women, to address the issue.

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[Cronus Protagonist]

1. What happens to the next baby who's mother dies in childbirth?

Yet the baby survives? Murder charges?




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Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[WindRavenX]

2. The problems with these bills, and all of those like it, is that...

...no where is there a mention as to when it becomes a crime when the fetus is hurt/killed- the language, like the ridiculous bill requiring alerting the authorities in the event of a miscarriage, is extremely vague as to what is considered "harming" a fetus and by who. The bill language says that abortion and other conditions wil be exempt from the bill, but that seems to contradict what the bill is actually saying- that a fetus IS a person.