Rep. Boozman Votes for 'Laci and Connor's Law'

HEADLINE: REP. BOOZMAN VOTES FOR 'LACI AND CONNOR S LAW'

BYLINE: States News Service

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

The office of Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., issued the following press release:

Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) voted for a House measure protecting pregnant mothers and their unborn children from violence. By a vote of 254-163, the House approved the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" - also known as "Laci and Connor's Law" - which would charge those who injure or kill an unborn child with a separate offense.

"This very important bill reaffirms that life is precious - regardless of whether that life is in or out of the mother's womb," said Boozman. "Horrific acts of violence against a mother and her unborn child are crimes against two lives and must be treated as such."

Under current law, an individual who commits a federal crime of violence against a pregnant woman receives no additional punishment for killing or injuring the woman's unborn child. Twenty-nine states have passed laws similar to the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" to correct this injustice.

The bill was renamed "Laci and Connor's Law" after the murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn child in 2002 drew national media attention. Laci and her husband had already had chosen Conner as a name for their unborn son.

"Because California has a law similar to the one we passed today, two murder charges were filed in the case. Arkansas has a similar law. However, there are still twenty-one states that do not protect unborn children against acts of violence. This law will help fill that void," said Boozman.

A majority of Americans support "Laci and Connor's Law." A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll conducted in August 2003 found that close to 80 percent of all Americans believe that those whose violent actions lead to death of a pregnant woman's fetus should be charged with murder.