Fetal homicide

Fetal homicide

Introduction

A law of fetal homicide describes that assassination of an unborn child as a criminalized act that is equal to killing of an ordinary human being. Traditional legal proceedings of the Unites States of America do not consider fetal homicide as a criminal activity because custody of the child is a private decision. Because of quality education, individuals have realized the sin they were committing by killing an unborn child (Tsao, 1998).

Debate of fetal homicide is not new in the country; however, with the passage of time this issue has become the most debatable topic in the legal system of the country. As legal experts have organized several sessions for resolving this controversial issue but were not able to develop a proper framework.

In modern scenario, several states of the country that are against the killing of the fetus have raised their voice and have demanded that the killing of a child must be considered as an act of extreme violence. They demand the broadening of criminal charges with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 90 years as punishment (Weiss et al, 2006).

Discussion

Addition of fetal homicide act, under the legislation system of the United States of America has divided the citizens into two groups. First group comprises of individuals that are in support of this act, and has urge authorities to take severe action for reduction of killing of unborn child. Whereas, second group comprises of people that are against these laws, because they believe that implementation of these act has reduced the rights of women in the society. (Smith, 2000) explains that it is the responsibility of the government to draft a legal framework, to protect the rights of children, and to provide justice to females that were brutally slaughtered by their husband or boyfriend.

States that have implemented fetal homicide laws in their legal system

Currently thirty-eight states of United States of America have drafted fetal homicide laws. Out of these states, only twenty-three states have completely implemented the fetal homicide laws in their legal system and are providing protection to the females from the early time of pregnancy. Other remaining states of the country also consider killing of child as a crime but has not amended the legal system of the state. Below table describes the implementation of this act in few states of the country (Ramsey, 2006; Milligan, 2007).

Alabama State

According to the legal system of Alabama State the fetal homicide law is being included in the legal system under section 13A 6-1. This section of the law explains individual as a person that is charged under the homicide act must not be charged if the child is being killed under recurrent abortion act, or mistreatment from the physician.

Arizona*

State of Arizona has clearly implemented homicide laws in its legal system under the section 13-1102 - 13-1105. This section of the law clearly explains that any person involve in slaughtering, killing of the child must be punished regarding of the stage in which child is being ...