"Rights of the Unborn." Say wha?

[Midnight Son]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3778427,00.html

Expanding rights for the unborn without limiting mothers' reproductive rights is an issue that confronts lawmakers this week when the House takes up a bill that would make it separate federal crimes to injure or kill both a woman and her fetus.

The Unborn Victims of Violence Act is regarded by conservative groups as one of the most important social policy measures that could come before Congress this year.

``It's a step in the right direction, toward recognizing the humanity of the unborn,'' said Genevieve Wood, spokeswoman for the Family Research Council.

Some argue this is another attempt to limit abortion rights even though legal abortions are specifically excluded in the bill. (Slippery slopeness?)
I must ask at this juncture: "What about the Undead?" Do they have any rights?

[Squirrel Killer]

Some argue this is another attempt to limit abortion rights even though legal abortions are specifically excluded in the bill. (Slippery slopeness?)

An Iowa legislator I worked for floor managed a bill like this. It was in response to a constituent who had been in a car accident and lost her unborn baby. An uninsured kid ran a stoplight and hit the pregenant woman's car, the mother and father were fine, but she lost the baby. All they could charge the driver with was reckless driving. (Perhaps they could have charged him with more, but that's all the prosecutor said they could charge him with.) There were clear provisions excluding abortion from from the law.

This was over 10 years ago, and the Iowa pro-lifers are still howling for anti-abortion laws, so I don't think the slippery slope is too steep. YMMV.

[Jason McCullough]

Yeah, what SK said.