Bill chips away at abortion rights

A bill that would allow criminals who commit a crime against a pregnant woman to be charged separately for violence against a fetus gained approval by a House subcommittee last week. \nBut under the guise of protecting pregnant women, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act is an attempt to enact legislation that chips away at the legalization of abortion, established with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.\nThis bill must not be allowed to pass into law. \nThe new bill clearly states the fetus is to be considered an unborn child and a member of the human species. But in Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court established that abortion is not murder because a fetus is not a person. This is where things become cloudy because the Unborn Victims of Violence Act exempts injury or death of a fetus resulting from abortion, medical treatment or women harming their own fetuses.\nWith this bill, legislators are saying if the fetus is harmed in a violent act, the fetus qualifies as a person. But they say if the fetus is aborted, it is not considered a person. That doesn't makes sense. Either a fetus is a person or it is not, and the latter has previously been decided. The new bill is illogical and would set a precedent, opening the door for future opposition to abortion. \nIf legislators are looking to further punish criminals who attack pregnant women, this is not the way to do it. This will not serve to discourage violence against pregnant women, because the attacker does not even have to know the woman is pregnant. There is no required proof of intent. There are no stipulations depending on what stage of development the fetus is in. The woman could be two weeks pregnant or eight months.\nAnd the punishment for this separate offense would be the same as if the harm were inflicted on any other individual. The only exception is that people could not receive the death penalty for this crime.\nTwenty-four states now have laws offering some form of fetal protection. But it is a big leap to make this a federal offense when there are so many unanswered questions.\nThe bill has roused much partisan debate. Republicans say it is an effective way to more harshly punish violent criminals. Democrats counter it is an effort to limit the legality of abortion. The bill is expected to pass in the House, despite Democratic opposition. It could be voted on before the congressional recess that begins April 9. But in the Senate, which is evenly divided, hopefully the few Republican pro-choice advocates will see the bill for what it is and vote it down.\nThe Unborn Victims of Violence Act, if made law, would confuse the definition of a fetus and what constitutes harm (killing under some circumstances but not others). It stands on shaky grounds and should not be passed.\nStaff vote: 8 - 4 - 2