Beware of the law of unintended consequences. What happens, for example, if a woman engages in activities that result in a miscarriage before she even knew she was pregnant? Do you charge her with negligent homicide? What about women, who know they are pregnant, who engage in activities that increase the risk of miscarriage? If, in fact, a miscarriage occurs, are they guilty of criminally negligent or reckless behavior? And will th parents of unborn children have the right to claim an extra deduction on their state tax return?
If the decisions are entrusted to the respective states, where they rightfully belong, I simply can’t see these kinds of draconian punishments being enacted legislatively. If they were, then we’re just as likely to see criminal prosecutions of obese people, smokers, and drinkers, whose excesses shorten their own lives.
What about women, who know they are pregnant, who engage in activities that increase the risk of miscarriage? If, in fact, a miscarriage occurs, are they guilty of criminally negligent or reckless behavior? Short answer, YES! You surely undersatand criminal negligence.
And will the parents of unborn children have the right to claim an extra deduction on their state tax return? In my opinion, so long as the IRS exists, YES, absolutely!
Conveying personhood upon the alive unborn will require a more specific use of existing laws. It will also stop in its tracks the obscene exploitation of embryo-aged humans now in practice and planned with such programs as embryonic stem cell exploitation and 'therapeutic cloning'. When applying the law may be difficult in some case, the law is not set aside to avoid the difficulty.