NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire Applauds Sub-Committee Decision
(Concord, NH) Today, a sub-committee of the House Criminal Justice committee studying HB 1360, overwhelmingly voted to recommend no further legislation regarding defining an “unborn child” as “another” in the case of manslaughter and negligent homicide – legislation that could potentially undermine Roe v. Wade by granting rights to a fetus. Following a contentious sub-committee hearing this spring, six legislators including Representative Beth Rodd (D-Bradford), reconvened today to vote on the interim study recommendation for HB 1360. The sub-committee concluded that while most can agree that it is important to recognize the loss of a wanted pregnancy due to a criminal act against a pregnant woman, past New Hampshire legislation enforcing enhanced penalties for similar crimes already serves this purpose while still protecting the rights of pregnant women. “This type of legislation would open doors to dangerous restrictions on women’s personal freedom without addressing the real problem – violence against women. We were pleased that the subcommittee recognized it would have to rewrite the New Hampshire Constitution before they could accept the language in HB 1360,” said Laura Thibault, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire. “There is no doubt that bills like HB 1360 exist for the sole purpose of eroding a woman’s legal right to choose. NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire has always supported enhanced penalty legislation that recognizes the tragic loss of a wanted pregnancy without setting new legal definitions of personhood.”
Contact: Laura Thibault, Executive Director
NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire
603/228-1224
cell 603/978-2034
www.prochoicenh.org
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