Senate Passes Fetus Protection Bill

[Snazzy]

Senate Passes Fetus Protection Bill

By JIM ABRAMS
The Associated Press
Friday, March 26, 2004; 2:03 AM

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Thursday to make it a separate crime to harm a fetus during commission of a violent federal crime, a victory for those seeking to expand the legal rights of the unborn.

The 61-38 vote on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act sends the legislation, after a five-year battle in Congress, to President Bush for his signature, which he promised to provide.

...

But abortion rights lawmakers contended that giving a fetus, from the point of conception, the same legal rights as its mother sets a precedent that could be used in future legal challenges to abortion rights.

...

This would be the first time in federal law that an embryo or fetus is recognized as a separate and distinct person under the law, separate from the woman," said NARAL president Kate Michelman. "Much of this is preparing for the day the Supreme Court has a majority that will overrule Roe v. Wade."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25758-2004Mar26.html

----

Posted mainly FYI 'cause we will be hearing a lot about this. What's with the vote? 38?

[drhilarius]

1. why not

pass a "fetuses that made it out of the womb" protection bill? It'll help cancel out some of this administration's policies.

[shance]

2. What Democrats actually voted for this bill?

This is unbelievably sad.

n/t

[aquart]

3. Disgusting.

What patsies. Sell them another war, George. They'll buy anything.

[Snazzy]

4. Oops, dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=444706&mesg_id=444706

Must have been on page 2 or so.

AP shooting to wire the story I posted some 9 hours later.

[sithknight]

5. hold on there

Look, I'm not terribly happy about the precedent that this law may set; but that is for the future to weigh out and in theory this shouldn't touch a woman's right to choose. Realistically, the law will aggravate any crime of violence that has the added effect of injuring the fetus. Which means, that if some pregnant lady is assaulted and her fetus miscarriages/abort/is hurt the crime will be deemed more serious. Why in the world shouldn't it? I'm NOT saying or suggesting in any way shape or form that women do not have the right to choose. I am saying that if some sack of excrement decides to attack a pregnant woman that I'd put them away a mite bit longer. This is the same logic behind making hate crimes an aggravated offense: crimes against some persons and for some "reasons" are just worse.

[militarymanusaf]

6. The problem I see in the future

is that the rethuglicans will use this as a basis for outlawing any and all abortions. I agree with you on the legislation that passed...I'm just afraid of what it may lead to down the road.

eom

[Moderator]

7. locking

here ya go -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=444706