I'm not sure how many state statutes speak to crimes involving babies in the womb, but what's your point? Should we revisit all those decisions to criticize them? Or to learn from them and see their consequences? And do you really think this is an area where, if we aren't legislating, we need to start doing so? Maybe, but maybe not.
my point is that if we establish a specific point at which an embryo becomes a person and therefore possesses right, that all this patchwork ambiguity ceases and that we can bring all such laws into alignment with when a woman has a right to terminate a pregnancy as a function of her self determination and when such a right is superseded by another person's right not to be killed and the care owed to a child by a parent.
I agree with you with respect to the crime of abortion. I’m not so sure that’s true with all other torts and crimes involving pregnant women and their babies. There it may be better for judges and jurors to be able to apply justice or mercy as the particular circumstances merit, especially where - in sharp distinction to abortion- the act is not premeditated.
I'm not sure how many state statutes speak to crimes involving babies in the womb, but what's your point? Should we revisit all those decisions to criticize them? Or to learn from them and see their consequences? And do you really think this is an area where, if we aren't legislating, we need to start doing so? Maybe, but maybe not.
my point is that if we establish a specific point at which an embryo becomes a person and therefore possesses right, that all this patchwork ambiguity ceases and that we can bring all such laws into alignment with when a woman has a right to terminate a pregnancy as a function of her self determination and when such a right is superseded by another person's right not to be killed and the care owed to a child by a parent.
I agree with you with respect to the crime of abortion. I’m not so sure that’s true with all other torts and crimes involving pregnant women and their babies. There it may be better for judges and jurors to be able to apply justice or mercy as the particular circumstances merit, especially where - in sharp distinction to abortion- the act is not premeditated.