Can a Fetus be a Victim of Murder?
By Swtrose
@Swtrose (3385)
Canada
June 2, 2007 10:19pm CST
Under a new law they can.
On April 1, 2004, President George Bush signed into law the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Currently, 30 states recognize the unlawful killing of an unborn child as homicide. In Missouri and 17 other states, the laws recognize a fetus as living at the time of conception.
A man has been charged for manslaughter after prosecutors said he beat his girlfriend and caused the fetus she was carrying to die.
July 1, a new law took place where a suspect could be charged with two crimes, one for harming a pregnant woman and another for harming the fetus. The state law's definition of “person” and “human being” will now include an unborn child at any stage of gestation, from conception to birth, for crimes.
In another case a man is being charged with manslaughter and second-degree fetal homicide.
This shows the value of human life. How long before the law sees abortion for what it really is - the unlawful killing of an unborn child.
4 people like this
10 responses
@Candid_Ishida (659)
• United States
3 Jun 07
President Bush really is a great man. Hopefully he also knows that studies estimate up to 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage in the early weeks. So, if the President and his lawmakers follow their current line of reasoning, hopefully all mothers who miscarry their babies will soon be in jail for involuntary manslaughter.
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
3 Jun 07
There is a huge difference between miscarriage and abortion now isn't there. Involuntary manslaughter is caused by recklessness or gross criminal negligence. There is no way in hell a woman who miscarried could or would ever be charged for that unless abortion was made illegal and the woman did something to herself to kill the baby.
2 people like this
@Candid_Ishida (659)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Of course there is a difference and I recognize that, since my comment was obviously sarcastic in nature... It just seems pointless to me that people are still trying to find ways to reverse Roe vs Wade. Abortion was made legal, therefore it -is- lawful and people need to accept that. Do we really want to go back to the days of young women using coat hangers to try and get rid of their pregnancy in secret? Woman have and deserve to keep the ability to make a choice like that without having to be afraid. I guess some people think it would be better for the mother to injure herself during her botched abortion attempt and just die as well... rather than being able to go to clinic where it can be done safely.
2 people like this
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
3 Jun 07
In Chinese culture, when a baby was born, he or she was considered one year old. This tradition goes WAAAAYYYYYY back. This is the reason that their Chinese age number is always at least 1 year more than the American age.
2 people like this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Reminds me of the fringe astrology theory of conception charts.
2 people like this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 Jun 07
Clearly the unborn are human, which is the important criteria, at what point they can be said to be a person is open to debate, since being a person seems to include factors other than the purely biological. Better perhaps to say abortion is the killing of an unborn human, whether it is illegal or not is a matter of political contingency.
all the best urban
2 people like this
@gadget_kat (412)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I've always referred to my 2 children as babies, when they were just a fetus. I believe that at the moment of conception is the start of their lives. They depend on the mother for food, just like after they are born. Their hearts beat, just as other people. They learn inside the womb, just as they do outside of the womb.
I'm glad that there is a law that recognizes that fetuses are actual living humans.
@mcjeannie (703)
• Philippines
3 Jun 07
Oopps sorry, I mean to say on the fourth month, the heart starts to beat.
This is a correction to that line, thanks.
2 people like this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
4 Jun 07
Just a small correction...
The heart starts beating way before the 4th month. A heart beat starts around 4-6 wks.
I have two kids and I heard their heartbeat way before the 4th month came along.
I started feeling movement at 4 months.
If you ask a doctor they will tell you the heartbeat is there around 4-6 weeks, but it's faint. You get a strong heartbeat around 9 weeks.
2 people like this
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
3 Jun 07
"This shows the value of human life. How long before the law sees abortion for what it really is - the unlawful killing of an unborn child."
Thank you, I couldn't have said that better.
2 people like this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
4 Jun 07
You know, I never understood why they don't consider abortion murder, but if someone was to kill someone who was pregnant, then they would be charged with two counts of murder.
Just doesn't make sense to me. I find that odd.
I know with the Lacy Petterson Case, they charged him with two counts of murder. There are so many other cases out there like this.
But why isn't abortion murder?
DUmb, if you ask me.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I am in complete agreement with these addition laws...it has been too long in coming as for as I am concerned, my friend....It seems to me that is a shame that the other 20 states have not proceeded in passing these laws as well...
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I believe in the right of choice for a woman. Without it, women would have to resort to illegal abortions which would send us back in time over a hundred years. Thankfully, I live in a state where abortion is still legal. I'm not judging you for your beliefs, so all I ask is that you don't judge me for mine. I'm thankful to live in a country where a woman's right to choose is still available and where freedom of speech is everyone's right.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Don't paint everyone with the same paintbrush dear. Women who have abortions have them for lots of reasons and maybe if you actually knew someone who was raped when they were thirteen and had no choice, you wouldn't be so judgmental. Now, wouldn't it be nice if we could all live together like one big box of crayons?
1 person likes this
