The House passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act or Ethen’s Law (HB215)by a vote of 73-36. A person could be charged with a double murder if a fetus dies when a mother is attacked and killed. There could also be charges for assault and battery of the fetus. Democratic Representative Deborah Ross introduced an amendment requiring prior knowledge of the pregnancy before there could be a second charge. It was voted down. Democrats expressed their concern the bill recognizes life begins at conception. There was an amendment to exempt the first trimester from the bill but that failed. There was an objection to third reading but it was removed for Democratic Representative Elmer Floyd to offer another amendment. It would changed the penalty for murdering an unborn child from life without parole to just life. It was defeated. Then the final vote was taken. The bill now moves to the Senate.
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