Unborn Victims of Crime Act

[morgan_dhu]

Canadian residents: Please take a moment to sign this online petition sponsored by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada to oppose "The Unborn Victims of Crime Act" (Bill C-484). The following information is taken from ARCC material.

The History of the Bill:

A private member's bill called The "Unborn Victims of Crime Act" (C-484) has been introduced by Conservative MP Ken Epp (Edmonton Sherwood Park). It had its first hour of debate in Parliament on December 13, and is projected to come up for its second hour of debate on February 29, with a vote on March 5. The text of the bill is here. The bill would amend the Criminal Code to allow separate homicide charges to be laid in the death of a fetus when a pregnant woman is attacked.

The bill poses a real danger to abortion rights, to the rights of all pregnant women, and to women's equality rights in general.

Please sign the following petition to call upon Parliament to oppose this bill. To review Talking Points against the bill preapred by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, visit: http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/action/unborn-victims-act.htm


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Text of the Petition:

PETITION TO THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT OF CANADA:

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED RESIDENTS OF CANADA, draw the attention of the House to the following:

THAT the proposed “Unborn Victims of Crime Act” conflicts with the Criminal Code, because it grants a type of legal personhood to fetuses, fetuses being non-persons under the law.

THAT giving any legal recognition to fetuses would necessarily compromise women’s established rights.

THAT pregnant women being assaulted or killed is largely a domestic violence issue and “fetal homicide” laws elsewhere have done nothing to reduce domestic violence against pregnant women or their fetuses.

THAT the proposed “Unborn Victims of Crime Act” is a dangerous step towards re-criminalizing abortion and it could also criminalize pregnant women for behaviours perceived to harm their fetuses.

THAT the proposed bill’s exemptions for pregnant women may not work since, in the U.S., arrests of pregnant women have occurred even under state fetal homicide laws that make exemptions for the pregnant woman.

THAT the best way to protect fetuses is to provide pregnant women the supports and resources they need for a good pregnancy outcome, including protection from domestic violence.

THEREFORE your petitioners call upon Members of Parliament to oppose “The Unborn Victims of Crime Act” (Bill C-484).

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To sign this important petition go to - http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/oppose-bill-c-484.html

Comments

[guyindkny.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, as was reported here (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080214/national/unborn_victims), no one wants to touch this bill with a bargepole--note even the Conservatives. At least, not so long as they have a minority. And for that we can be grateful.

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Yes.

My thoughts on making public the issues of concern in this bill are more about reminding our troll masters that we're still watching out for this kind of stuff than about more than the usual worry that some kind of muck-up in the House would allow this bill to pass.

[guyindkny.livejournal.com]

Indeed--and yay you for remaining vigilant. Complacency is something that we unfortunately can so easily fall victim to.

[aurillia.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's a scary idea, I hadn't even heard of it. Is this one of those knee-jerk we-have-to-look-like-we're-doing-something things because of the fairly recent attacks on pregnant women, especially ethnic pregnant women, who were murdered by their husbands?

Definitely an issue of domestic abuse, among other things, and something like this bill wouldn't do anything except muddy the issue further. So glad to hear it hasn't gone through (it hasn't, has it?).

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

I think it's more sinister than that. The Conservative party - or at least its current leaders - are being strongly influenced by right-wing Christian lobbyists, both from within Canada (check out this website (http://www.familyaction.org/index.htm) which is operated by one of the most powerful Christian lobbyists in Canada today, Charles McVety) and from the US, who want Canada to adopt the same kind of fundamentalist-leaning laws that are being enacted all over the US.

So while this bill is written to look like it's a reaction to the kinds of crimes you mention, that's just a cover for its tactical purpose, which is to create legal precedent toward a new law to restrict reproductive freedom.

The bill in question passed Second reading in the house March 5 and is now going into the committee stage of the legislative process. There's still time for you to voice your concerns to your Member of Parliament.