When a criminal attacks a pregnant woman, injuring or killing both her and her unborn child, has he claimed one victim, or two?

I’m disregarding time as a factor seeing how a woman can perform an abortion in almost any state of pregnancy. An abortion can range from micro-abortions in the first weeks (RU486), surgical abortions in the first trimester and partial birth abortions in the second and third trimester.

An example of this would be Scott Peterson...

He was charged with 2nd degree murder of his unborn child after carefully planning the murder of his wife. I know this because the jury found him guilty (trying to avoid a tangent argument).

That said, he obviously planned the murder of the mother & unborn child in the same sense a mother would plan her own abortion. So why isn't a mother held accountable for her actions after abortion? And why was Scott Peterson given a 2nd murder conviction?

*This is just a hypothetical question so don't assume I'm protecting Scott Peterson. If it makes you feel any better replace his name with Joe Snuffy.*

 

Joe Snuffy is my friend.

Anyway I think the biggest difference between the murder and an abortion is the fact that the abortion has to do with the woman's choice and-or health.

It's still a womans choice if she want's to have a baby vs. the murder where he-she has nothing to do with the pregnancy (physically).

 

But you're forgetting the child's rights in BOTH cases here.

An aborting mother -or- Joe Snuffy never considered the child's right to life. So the question still stands regarding the 2nd murder conviction.

 

Well the question still stands in the eyes of pro-life supporters but it has been answered in the eyes of pro-choice supporters.

Every answer here will be on a personal opinion level. I don't feel that anyone has the right to tell a woman that she has to have her baby if she doesn't want to. And to me that is the difference.

 

Yes, plus we are a bunch of dudes- and we will never understand the physical and spiritual complexities of having another human growing inside of you. Its hard to really wrap your mind around - and any man who says he can is lying. Sadly, there are alot of women who miss the point too and use abortion like an ear swab. I dont think there is any question in my mind that it should be legal, but is there is going to have to be a large shift in how americans take responsibilty for themselves. Currently we don't take any.

 

as far as double murder - i think it was fair.

Of course this question can't really be fought with logic.