Fetal Homicide Bill

After 20 years of debate, the State Legislature of Kentucky is getting close to passing a bill defining fetal homicide as a crime. House Bill 108, sponsored by Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, would make intentional fetal homicide a crime from the point of conception, but it does not attempt to define a fetus as a person. The House voted on the measure last Friday and it passed 88 to 5. It now goes to the Senate for consideration. Classified as an emergency bill, it would become effective as soon as it's signed by the governor.

Considering that a similar bill, sponsored by Dick Roeding, R-Lakeside Park, was passed in the Kentucky Senate last week by a strong majority of 31 to 6, there is substantial momentum to have a law enacted. In the words of Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington,

"It is time in this state that we give unborn babies the same protection that we give cats and dogs."

Of note is that legal abortions are not considered to be fetal homicide.