| North Carolina law makers have introduced the | | | | needed pressure to move the bill along. |
| Unborn victims of violence bill for the past five | | | | Although the bill's primary sponsors are Republicans, |
| sessions only to see it languish in committee. Modeled | | | | The Unborn Victims of Violence Act is not a partisan |
| after the federal bill known as the Laci and Conner | | | | issue. People say they are lifelong democrats, |
| Peterson Act, House Bill 263 says that a person who | | | | pro-choice, liberal democrats who supports the bill. |
| commits the crime of murder or manslaughter of a | | | | People get reduced sentences too often and a fetal |
| pregnant woman is guilty of a separate offense for | | | | homicide bill would help prevent that. "Many of us feel |
| the resulting death of the unborn child. The bill's three | | | | that if you also could be convicted or tried for the |
| other primary sponsors and its 46 co-signers as well | | | | death of the fetus, that you would probably get a |
| as many other legislators have indicated their support. | | | | guarantee that these people would serve some |
| The bill simply makes sense. A national poll shows | | | | serious time." |
| that when asked the question "If a criminal assaults a | | | | The current laws North Carolina now has in place do |
| woman who carries an unborn child, does that crime | | | | not even come close to being strong enough. The |
| have two victims or only one? 80 percent of | | | | current law states that any person, who in the |
| respondents say "two." | | | | commission of a felony, causes injury to a woman, |
| The federal government and 36 states have laws to | | | | knowing the woman to be pregnant, in which injury |
| prosecute the unlawful killing of an unborn child, laws | | | | results in the miscarriage or stillbirth by the woman is |
| that have been upheld by numerous federal and | | | | guilty of a felony that is one class higher than the |
| state courts. And yet, in North Carolina, the issue | | | | felony committed. |
| hasn't even been debated on the house floor, thanks | | | | We were very successful when we organized the |
| in part to two powerful groups, the pro-abortion | | | | "Coalition for Jessica's law." After two years of delay, |
| lobby and domestic violence advocates, and a | | | | Jessica's law was finally signed by the Governor . We |
| committee chair who has not allowed the issue to be | | | | have now organized the "Justice for All coalition" with |
| heard. | | | | the hopes of getting this bill signed into law after so |
| The fetal homicide bill does not conflict with the Roe | | | | many years of delay. It's passed time that we pay |
| ruling. Lets quit looking for any excuse not to pass | | | | tribute to the young women where the Judicial |
| this law. This is not about abortion. They want | | | | system has failed them such as, Michelle Young, 29, |
| women to have a choice-well these women who | | | | who was four months pregnant with her second child. |
| were murdered had a choice and chose to have their | | | | Young's sister found her beaten to death on the |
| babies. Then that choice was taken away. | | | | bedroom floor. She was lying in a pool of blood with |
| Rep. Deborah Ross, who chairs the Committee on | | | | her 2-year-old daughter who was unharmed, by her |
| Judiciary I, where the bill remains says: "She refused | | | | side. Janet Abaroa was found stabbed to death in |
| to hear the study bill that would have opened the | | | | her Durham home in April of 2005. Jennifer Neilson |
| door for those types of discussion. As for the senate | | | | was pregnant with her third child, she was murdered |
| side, Sen. Andrew Brock (R-Davie) introduced SB | | | | in Raleigh at 8 months pregnant. Maria Lauterback's |
| 295, a very similar measure which also wound up in | | | | unborn child had been buried with her, in the fire pit |
| the senate Judiciary I committee, chaired by Sen. | | | | where the killer tried to destroy the evidence by |
| Martin Nesbitt (D-Buncombe). | | | | setting both bodies ablaze. Megan Lynn Touma, |
| The only thing that will get the bills out of the | | | | another military woman. The Fort Bragg soldier, |
| committee and to the floor will be a word from | | | | seven months pregnant was found dead in June. |
| senate and house leadership to the respective | | | | Contribution's to our not-for profit organization can |
| committee chairs. | | | | be sent to: |
| Calls and letters to Senate Pro Tempore Marc | | | | "The Justice For All Coalition"c/o Jeff Gerber |
| Basnight and house speaker Joe Hackney, especially | | | | 5816 Concord Hwy. |
| from bill supporters in every district, might bring | | | | |