Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed legislation that would allow prosecutors to file additional charges against suspects who kill preborn babies in crimes against pregnant women.
Senate Enrolled Act 203, introduced by State Sen. Aaron Freeman, would give prosecutors the discretion to charge a suspect with murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter or feticide if an unborn child, at any stage of development, is killed in the course of the same crime against a pregnant woman.
According to Life Site News, the law does not require the offender to have known the victim was pregnant or to have specifically intended the baby's death. A second homicide conviction can add between six and 20 years to the convict's prison sentence.
Indiana Right to Life hailed the measure as a "powerful step forward" in recognizing the humanity of unborn babies when it was approved by the House in February.
The legislation, which takes effect on July 1, also included strict language clarifying that it cannot be used to prosecute women seeking abortions or doctors who perform the said procedure.
Freeman had tried to placate pro-abortion critics of the bill back in January by downplaying any connection between it and the broader abortion debate.
"I want to make it very clear that this is not an abortion bill," Freeman said at the time. "I am just trying to give the prosecutors another avenue to prosecute folks [...] There's nothing else being intended here," he added.
Freeman had stated that the bill was prompted by the story of a woman in his district who lost her daughter and unborn grandchild to homicide.
"If someone kills a pregnant woman, they should not only be tried for her death, but also the death of the fetus," he said.
National Right to Life Committee noted that a total of 29 states recognize unborn babies as victims of non-abortion violence at all stages of life. Unborn victims of violence are recognized in eight other states in at least some circumstances.
Meanwhile, another bill that is expected to take effect in Indiana on July 1 will require all doctors in the state to report any treatment of 26 different conditions known to be potential abortion complications.
The conditions listed in the bill, known as Senate Enrolled Act 340, include perforation of the uterus or cervix, infections, hemorrhaging, blood clots, cardiac or respiratory arrest, and emotional or psychological conditions.
Under the legislation, annual inspections will be conducted on abortion facilities and clinics that are applying for licenses must disclose any prior history of medical or legal problems at past abortion facilities. It also allows fire departments to act as "safe havens" where mothers can anonymously give their babies up for adoption.
