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Could a Bill Sought to Protect Pregnant Women Threaten Abortion Rights?
Aired May 07, 2003 - 15:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Laci Peterson's family today endorsed a federal bill that would allow violent crimes against a pregnant woman to be treated as crimes against two people. The measure which would cover only federal cases, is being reintroduced into the Senate after twice passing the House.
CNN's Congressional correspondent Kate Snow is with us now from Capitol Hill.
Kate, why are these lawmakers bringing this up right now.
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, two words, Laci Peterson. They admit while they've tried this before they've not had the kind of story they have with Laci Peterson. Senator DeWine, who sponsors this bill, said to me today, Laci tells the story better than we have ever been able to tell the story.
In a letter to its sponsors, the Peterson family, her mother, her stepfather, her father and siblings wrote this, "As a family of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, this bill is very close to our hearts knowing that perpetrators who murder pregnant women will pay the price not only for the loss of the mother, but the baby as well, will help bring justice for these victims and hopefully act as a deterrent to those considering heinous acts."
Judy, 26 states already have state laws like this where they treat a fetus as a separate individual from a pregnant mother when there's a crime like a woman being beaten or kills. Twenty-four states do not have that kind of law. This, bill would not trump those state laws. It wouldn't override the state. But what it would do was apply to any federal case. For example a crime taking place on a military base or at a federal property. Supporters say it's just common sense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: When a mother chooses to have the child, this legislation would prevent someone from taking that baby away or harming that child, when they harm the mother without severe repercussions. I think most Americans regardless of how you feel about the abortion debate, believe the following, that if an individual attacks a pregnant woman who has chosen to have the child, you ought to throw the book at them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: The bill does make an exception for legal abortion, but opponents say that it is a back door to the whole abortion issue because it defines a fetus as a life, as a person, that opens up the can of worms. One Democratic consultant said to me, they are opportunistically trying exploit this tragedy of Laci Peterson to get their bill passed. Senator Orrin Hatch who is a strong supporter of the bill, Judy, said to me that he thinks it does undermine abortion rights but he said, so be it. It's not about that, in his view. It's about protecting a woman and her unborn child -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: Very tough language back and forth. All right, Kate, thank you very much, reporting from the capitol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Abortion Rights?>
Aired May 7, 2003 - 15:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Laci Peterson's family today endorsed a federal bill that would allow violent crimes against a pregnant woman to be treated as crimes against two people. The measure which would cover only federal cases, is being reintroduced into the Senate after twice passing the House.
CNN's Congressional correspondent Kate Snow is with us now from Capitol Hill.
Kate, why are these lawmakers bringing this up right now.
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, two words, Laci Peterson. They admit while they've tried this before they've not had the kind of story they have with Laci Peterson. Senator DeWine, who sponsors this bill, said to me today, Laci tells the story better than we have ever been able to tell the story.
In a letter to its sponsors, the Peterson family, her mother, her stepfather, her father and siblings wrote this, "As a family of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, this bill is very close to our hearts knowing that perpetrators who murder pregnant women will pay the price not only for the loss of the mother, but the baby as well, will help bring justice for these victims and hopefully act as a deterrent to those considering heinous acts."
Judy, 26 states already have state laws like this where they treat a fetus as a separate individual from a pregnant mother when there's a crime like a woman being beaten or kills. Twenty-four states do not have that kind of law. This, bill would not trump those state laws. It wouldn't override the state. But what it would do was apply to any federal case. For example a crime taking place on a military base or at a federal property. Supporters say it's just common sense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: When a mother chooses to have the child, this legislation would prevent someone from taking that baby away or harming that child, when they harm the mother without severe repercussions. I think most Americans regardless of how you feel about the abortion debate, believe the following, that if an individual attacks a pregnant woman who has chosen to have the child, you ought to throw the book at them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: The bill does make an exception for legal abortion, but opponents say that it is a back door to the whole abortion issue because it defines a fetus as a life, as a person, that opens up the can of worms. One Democratic consultant said to me, they are opportunistically trying exploit this tragedy of Laci Peterson to get their bill passed. Senator Orrin Hatch who is a strong supporter of the bill, Judy, said to me that he thinks it does undermine abortion rights but he said, so be it. It's not about that, in his view. It's about protecting a woman and her unborn child -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: Very tough language back and forth. All right, Kate, thank you very much, reporting from the capitol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Abortion Rights?>
