Failing to recognize that there's more than one victim to an assault on a pregnant woman shows no compassion to the victims' families.
OTTAWA, August 27, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Monday afternoon, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced that the Conservative government would table a bill that would make pregnancy an aggravating factor when a pregnant woman is assaulted or killed.
"This is not enough!" said Aydin Cocelli, brother-in-law of Aysun Sesen, who was brutally killed last year during her 7th month of pregnancy. "Pregnancy is already considered an aggravating factor. We ask the Canadian government to recognize that we are coping with two losses, two deaths."
"We were pleased that bill C-484, introduced by Conservative MP Ken Epp, acknowledged the fact that we have to cope with two losses. We had hope that it would bring recognition of our pain by the Canadian judicial system.
Meanwhile, at least 8 Conservative MPs have
affirmed their support to the Unborn Victims Of Crime Act. Ken Epp, the author of bill C-484 has issued a statement,
condemning the government's decision to sacrifice his bill to ideology and political expedience.
C-484 is crystal clear. It applies only when the pregnant woman is the victim of a crime. It doesn’t make the fetus a “human being” or a “person” under the law nor can it lead to that. It could never be used against the pregnant woman for any harm she might cause to her own fetus. Elective abortion is explicitly excluded. It’s only about abortion for those who cannot get past their strident ideology to feel any compassion for a woman who is such a tragic victim.
Ken Epp said that he won't withdraw bill C-484 even if an "alternative" bill is introduced by the government.
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