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