Bush Says Harming Fetus Is Federal Crime

The Associated Press ^ | April 25 2003

[new cruelty]

With Laci Peterson's husband charged in California with murdering her and their unborn child, the White House on Friday called on Congress to pass a law making it a federal crime to harm a fetus during an assault on its mother.

The House passed legislation in 2001 supported by President Bush that would make it a criminal offense to injure or kill a fetus during the commission of a violent crime. The Senate never took up the measure.

Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer declined to comment on the Peterson case specifically.

But asked whether it is appropriate for Scott Peterson to be charged with two murders that of his pregnant wife and their unborn son Fleischer responded that the president believes that "when an unborn child is killed during the commission of a crime of violence, the law should recognize what most people immediately recognize, and that is that such a crime has two victims."

Scott Peterson pleaded innocent Monday to murdering his wife and unborn son. Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, disappeared on Christmas Eve, and the bodies washed ashore last week in San Francisco Bay, three miles from where Scott Peterson said he was fishing.

California law permits a murder charge for a fetus if a pregnant woman is slain, even if the fetus is not viable.

"The president calls on the House and calls on the Senate to again pass the Unborn Victims of Violence Act," Fleischer said.

[exmarine]

Abortion isn't a crime of violence? Then what is it? Oh, I forgot, it's a choice! The mother plays God. If she deems her unborn baby worthless, then VOILA! - it is. If she decides to give birth but the baby is murdered, it's murder! What is wrong with this picture? Can you spell R-E-L-A-T-I-V-I-S-M?

[RightWhale]

This is no good. It adds to Federal police powers, a non-constitutional ursurpation of authority.

[Hugin]

Why a federal crime? Murder isn't. I don't see any reson for a federal law.

[Maceman]

I don't get it. If murder is not a federal crime, why should harming a fetus -- which I also see as murder -- be a federal crime?

[Dirk McQuickly]

This ought to send NOW into another conniption. Go W!

[kjam22]

So it will give a bunch of lawyers and the supreme court something to do.

[MHGinTN]

No it doesn't. It will apply to only Federal murder statutes, as in Federal property locations and against Federal employees assaulted.

[Maigrey]

The alphabet soup crowd is gonna be up in arms over this! Good!

[Search4Truth]

BUMP

[NittanyLion]

Murder is a state crime. Why should the murder of an unborn child be any different?

Sounds like political pandering.

[monday]

This is illogical, but then what can you expect from the mental defectives who govern us?

For those of you wondering what I am talking about, if this is considered a crime then abortion is a crime too. Can't have one be a crime and the other not be a crime. Only a mental defective would think otherwise.

[The Old Hoosier]

HAahahahahaha!!!!!!! Try opposing that, you NAGS!

[Alberta's Child]

I can already see how any attempt to enforce this law will end up -- the defense attorney will try to make the case that the victim's mother was on her way to an abortion clinic anyway.

[dirtboy]

And to claim there should be a federal law for this, all the while intentionally killing a fetus any other way is approved by the feds, is crazy.

Gotta agree with you here. This is a state matter.

[showme_the_Glory]

"California law permits a murder charge for a fetus if a pregnant woman is slain, even if the fetus is not viable."


CA got it right.

Sorry Scott, no leg to stand on.

[cruiserman]

A federal crime?!

[dirtboy]

It will apply to only Federal murder statutes, as in Federal property locations and against Federal employees assaulted.

Do you have a cite for that?

[pgyanke]

Well said.