[Martin M. Barillas | LifeSite News] The Iowa Senate passed a bill this week that gives a life sentence (99 years) without parole to anyone who kills an unborn child without the consent of the mother.
According to Senate File 523, “A person who causes the death of an unborn person without the consent of the pregnant person during the commission of a felony or felonious assault is guilty of a class ‘A’ felony.” By defining an “unborn person,” the bill provides a definition not found elsewhere in state law.
The bill passed the Iowa Senate March 26, 31-18, on a partisan vote.
“This affirms that when you kill someone inside of the womb, it holds the same penalties as someone outside of the womb,” sponsor of the bill Sen. Jake Chapman said.
Planned Parenthood criticized the bill.
“These changes would have far-reaching, unintended consequences, including outlawing certain forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization,” said executive director of Planned Parenthood Iowa Erin Davison-Rippey. “A woman’s decisions about pregnancy must be made between her and her doctor, without political interference,” she added.
In an interview with LifeSiteNews, Iowa Right to Life executive director Caitlyn Dixson expressed optimism that the bill will pass in the Iowa House of Representatives.
“Next week is ‘funnel’ week,” she said, which means that the bill must be reported out of a House committee by April 4 in order to be considered during the remainder of the legislative session.
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[Editor’s Note: This article was written by Martin M. Barillas and first published at Lifesite News.This is not an endorsement of the theology of Lifesite News. Title changed by P&P.]
