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Article: House makes harm of fetus as federal crime, rekindles abortion row.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- April 26, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON _ The House voted Thursday to make harming a fetus a federal crime _ the opening effort by anti-abortion forces to push the new Congress to adopt ever tighter restrictions on abortions and to give legal protections to the unborn.
The legislation, passed 252-172, would cover anyone who injures or kills a fetus while committing a federal crime.
The punishment would be the same as if the mother were injured or killed, but prosecutors would be unable to seek the death penalty.
Criminal charges could be filed even if the attacker did not know that the woman was pregnant, or even if the woman did not know she was pregnant.
"It's ...