New Law Aiming to Protect Unborn from Violent Crime Goes Into Effect Saturday
New Law Aiming to Protect Unborn from Violent Crime Goes Into Effect Saturday
MONTGOMERY - Those who injure or kill pregnant women in Alabama could be punished for committing crimes against two victims - the woman and her unborn child - under a new law taking effect on Saturday.
Governor Bob Riley, who pushed the Legislature to pass the new law, said all human life, regardless of its stage of development, deserves equal protection from crime.
"Pregnant women who have been assaulted and injured know they are not the only victims. Their unborn child is also a victim and both should be protected by law. Now they both will be," Governor Riley said. "All life is a gift from God and those who commit crimes against any child, born and unborn, should be punished severely. Under this new law, those who harm a pregnant woman will answer for the full extent of the injury they've caused and for all the crimes they've committed."
The bill is called the "Brody Bill" in memory of Brody Parker. Twenty-three-year-old Brandy Parker was eight months pregnant with Brody when she was fatally shot in July 2005.
Governor Riley called for passage of the new law in both his 2005 and 2006 State of the State Addresses. The bill, House Bill 19, was sponsored by Representative Spencer Collier and co-sponsored by Representative Frank McDaniel. Senator Bradley Byrne sponsored the Senate version of the bill.
The new law states "an unborn child in utero at any stage of development, regardless of viability" is a "person" for purposes of state laws dealing with murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and assault.
Governor Riley signed the bill into law on April 17 surrounded by several Alabamians who have suffered the tragic loss of a pregnant daughter and/or an unborn child because of a criminal act.
Alabama joins 33 other states that have passed laws recognizing the unlawful killing of an unborn child as a homicide in at least some circumstances. The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which President Bush signed in April 2004, covers unborn victims of federal crimes.
http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2006-06-28-02-unborn_crime.asp