Unborn Victims Bill Goes to House

Special Report - March 24, 2011

On Wednesday, HB 215—Unborn Victims of Violence Act advanced through the House Judiciary Subcommittee B with a favorable report and is headed to the House floor. The bill seeks to provide legal protection and recourse for acts of violence to unborn children, who are injured or die as a result of crimes committed against their pregnant mothers.

Tragically, since 2007, there have been nine pregnant women and their unborn children murdered in North Carolina. Effie Steele, a Durham resident who lost both her pregnant daughter and unborn grandson to an act of violence, was present at Wednesday’s meeting to show her support for the bill. Also present were the parents of Jenna Nielson, who was murdered in Raleigh in July of 2007, along with her eight-and-a-half month-old unborn son, Ethen, for whom the bill is named in memoriam.

After receiving a favorable report from the committee, HB 215 was referred to the House Appropriations committee for further consideration. However, that referral was later withdrawn, and the bill is scheduled for the floor of the House on Thursday, March 24.

If approved by the House, HB 215 will go the Senate for consideration.

Related resources:
Unborn Victims Bill Gets First Hearing - March 17, 2011
Unborn Victims Bill Introduced - March 4, 2011
Parents Call for Fetal Murder Law - May 8, 2009
Another Pregnant Soldier Dies in North Carolina - June 25, 2008
Maryland Fetal Homicide Act Brings First Conviction - April 3, 2008
Murder Shows Need for Fetal Homicide Law - January 28, 2008
Fetal Murder Laws Questioned Following Mother's Death - June 26, 2007
How to Achieve Justice for All in North Carolina - FNC - Winter 2011
Protecting the Unborn - FNC - Mar/Apr 2008

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