THE JUSTICE FOR ALL COALITION

WHAT IS THE UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE ACT

What is the Unborn Victims of Violence Act? It is a law that was adopted by the United States Congress and was signed into law by President Bush. What it seeks to do is, "to protect unborn children from assault and murder." It inserts provisions in the criminal code that make it a separate crime to kill a fetus in the womb. It uses language, such as "unborn children" and "child in utero" that defines the child in the womb as a human being. The bill would make it a crime to kill or injure an unborn child during an act of violence committed against a pregnant woman. "We believe that when you have violence against a pregnant woman, you have essentially two victims. Obviously the mother is a victim, but you also have the unborn child as a victim and we believe there should be a separate penalty." Pro-choice groups say the bill aims to undermine abortion rights. Such groups support the Motherhood Protection Act, which pushes additional penalties for violent crimes against women without recognizing fetuses as separate people. However the unborn child should be recognized as a victim. It's not about pushing the pro-life agenda. It's not about abortion. "This is about protecting unborn children, pregnant mothers. And it hasn't been controversial in those states where we do have it on the books. Unfortunately we still do not have this bill after trying for the past ten years, thanks in part to very powerful members of the North Carolina General Assembly such as Rep. Deborah Ross (Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net) and Rep. Joe Hackney "speaker of the house". (Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net). In fact there have been almost no problems with it. So I think it's a common sense measure. My guess is, if we can get the NC House as well as the NC Senate to pass this, in a few years time people will look back and wonder what all the controversy was all about." The Unborn Victims of Violence Act, I strongly believe that the involuntary termination of a pregnancy through violence or other premeditated act must be treated as a violent felony. Under current state law, an unborn child is not considered a legal victim of a crime. In the case of homicide, North Carolina literally allows criminals to get away with murder. Sadly, murder has become the number one cause of death for pregnant women in America. An estimated one in five women will be abused during their pregnancy. Women who choose to have their babies are dying (and, so are their babies) because of their choice. And most of the assailants are the fathers of the unborn children. Violent attacks on pregnant women in North Carolina have increased since 2000 and highlight the deficiency in current law and the need for reform. 36 states currently have this law on the books, including States with a more liberal representation such as California. Scott Peterson of California was sentenced to death by lethal injection in March 2005 after he was convicted of killing his wife and unborn child, Laci and Conner, and dumping their bodies in San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve 2002. The Peterson case resulted in the passage of a national law and measures in state legislatures to provide more protection and justice for pregnant women and their unborn children when they are killed or injured in an attack. The Justice For All Coalition "www.thejusticeforallcoalition.com" will continue to travel the state and educate the public, as well as put pressure on these powerful legislatures who represent their special interest groups rather than their constituents until this bill is signed into law. As the organizer of this organization I need your help emailing these lawmakers or calling them. Rep. Deborah Ross- 919-733-5773 Rep. Joe Hackney-919-733-3451 Together we can make North Carolina a safer state to live, work, and raise our families. Jeff Gerber Monroe,NC 704-564-0065

NORTH CAROLINA NEEDS THE UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BILL

North Carolina law makers have introduced the Unborn victims of violence bill for the past five sessions only to see it languish in committee. Modeled after the federal bill known as the Laci and Conner Peterson Act. The Unborn Victims Of Violence Bill says that a person who commits the crime of murder or manslaughter of a pregnant woman is guilty of a separate offense for the resulting death of the unborn child. A national poll shows that when asked the question "If a criminal assaults a woman who carries an unborn child, does that crime have two victims or only one? 80 percent of respondents say "two." The federal government and 36 states have laws to prosecute the unlawful killing of an unborn child, laws that have been upheld by numerous federal and state courts. And yet, in North Carolina, the issue hasn't even been debated on the house floor, thanks in part to two powerful groups, the pro-abortion lobby and domestic violence advocates, and a committee chair who has not allowed the issue to be heard. The fetal homicide bill does not conflict with the Roe ruling. Lets quit looking for any excuse not to pass this law. This is not about abortion. They want women to have a choice-well these women who were murdered had a choice and chose to have their babies. Then that choice was taken away. Rep. Deborah Ross, who chairs the Committee on Judiciary I, where the bill remains says: "She refused to hear the study bill that would have opened the door for those types of discussion. As for the senate side, Senate Bills S-13 and S-26, a very similar measure which also wound up in the senate Judiciary I committee, chaired by Sen. Martin Nesbitt (D-Buncombe). The only thing that will get the bills out of the committee and to the floor will be a word from senate and house leadership to the respective committee chairs. Calls and letters to Senate Pro Tempore Marc Basnight and house speaker Joe Hackney, especially from bill supporters in every district, might bring needed pressure to move the bill along. Although the bill's primary sponsors are Republicans,"The Unborn Victims Of Violence Act" is not a partisan issue. People say they are lifelong democrats, pro-choice, liberal democrats who supports the bill. People get reduced sentences too often and a fetal homicide bill would help prevent that. Many of us feel that if you also could be convicted or tried for the death of the fetus, that you would probably get a guarantee that these people would serve some serious time. The current laws North Carolina now has in place do not even come close to being strong enough. The current law states that any person, who in the commission of a felony, causes injury to a woman, knowing the woman to be pregnant, in which injury results in the miscarriage or stillbirth by the woman is guilty of a felony that is one class higher than the felony committed. We were very successful when we organized the "Coalition for Jessica's Law." After two years of delay, Jessica's law was finally signed by the Governor. We have now organized the "Justice for All coalition" with the hopes of getting this bill signed into law after so many years of delay. It's passed time that we pay tribute to the young women where the Judicial system has failed them such as, Michelle Younge, 29, who was four months pregnant with her second child. Young's sister found her beaten to death on the bedroom floor. She was lying in a pool of blood with her 2-year-old daughter who was unharmed, by her side. Janet Abaroa was found stabbed to death in her Durham home in April of 2005. Jennifer Neilson was pregnant with her third child, she was murdered in Raleigh at 8 months pregnant. Maria Lauterback's unborn child had been buried with her, in the fire pit where the killer tried to destroy the evidence by setting both bodies ablaze. Megan Lynn Touma, another military woman. The Fort Bragg soldier, seven months pregnant was found dead in June. Lucy Johnson, from Gastonia and 20 year old Leeanna Newman of Landis,NC. Jeff Gerber (Chairman), "The Justice For All Coalition" www.thejusticeforallcoalition.com Monroe, NC 704-564-0065

Jennifer Kathleen Nielsen: Pregnant Woman Slain Behind Food Mart Autopsy confirms that Jenna died of a single stab wound to her neck. A one-inch-wide wound went 3.7 inches into the left side of Jenna Nielsen's neck, hitting her carotid artery and her internal jugular vein, the autopsy found.It did say, however, that her pants and underwear had been pulled down. Because Nielsen was partially clothed, sources indicate it is possible that her killer attempted to rape her and that when she struggled, she was fatally wounded.Nielsen was pregnant with her third child, a boy to be named Ethen, at the time of her death.According to the autopsy, the fetus was approximately 38 to 40 weeks and healthy, weighing about 6.35 pounds and was about 19.9 inches long.Raleigh police found Nielsen's body at approximately 4:30 a.m. June 14 behind the AmeriKing Food Mart at 1709 Lake Wheeler Road. The store was on Nielsen's newspaper delivery route for USA Today.This is a prime example, why North Carolina needs "The Unborn Victims Rights Bill."When an offender knowingly murders a pregnant victim, they should be charged with two counts of murder versus one.Under current North Carolina law, when this murderer is apprehended, they will only be charged with a single count of murder.Does this make sense? So far 36 states say this is undoubtedly two counts of murder.The federal government even has "The Unborn Victims Of Violence Act" so why is North Carolina among only a handful of states that has not passed this very important legislation?We hear horrific stories such as most recently the arrest of Michael Mead for murdering his pregnant fiance' Lucy Johnson who was shot to death and found inside her Gastonia home. Johnson was 15 weeks pregnant, carrying a boy when she was murdered. She also had two children.Remember Rae Carruth who had his pregnant girlfriend Cherica Adams murdered while carrying their son now four who survived the attack.I would imagine these men were in troubled relationships and chose murder verses paying child support.These animals must understand that when both mother and child die, that is two counts of murder not one.The "Justice For All Coalition" a statewide nonprofit organization will continue to put on rally's across North Carolina until "The Unborn Victims Of Violence" bill is signed into law. If you would like to help contact:Joe Hackney (speaker of the house)joe.hackney@ncleg.net------------------------------------------Senator Marc Basnight (pro tempore of the senate)marcb@ncleg.net

JEFF GERBER
UNION COUNTY,NC
jeffgerber01@yahoo.com