Statement of Laura Thibault on Fetal Rights Legislation
March 2, 2004
Concord - Today the New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard testimony regarding three bills that attempt to forge new ground by granting legal personhood to a fetus. “Violence against women is unacceptable. NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire is dedicated to preserving a woman’s right to have a family when she chooses, and any criminal act that ends a pregnancy is tragic and intolerable. Thankfully, current New Hampshire law already punishes these horrible criminal acts”. said Laura Thibault, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire. New Hampshire law already imposes an enhanced penalty on assailants who commit a violent act toward a pregnant woman resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth. In 1991, New Hampshire passed laws that punish assailants who “purposely or knowingly causes injury to another resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth” (RSA 631:1c), or who “recklessly or negligently causes injury to another resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth” (RSA 631:2 e). “Legislation that focuses solely on the fetus—and ignores the pregnant woman—stems not from compassion, but from a desire to undermine the Roe v. Wade decision. The New Hampshire legislature should continue to support programs that prevent and punish violence against women, not exploit this important issue for political gain while attempting to undermine the right to choose”, said Thibault.
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