The unspeakable violence against Michelle Wilkins when she was 8 months pregnant is a tragedy beyond imagination. The sadness of this horrifying crime will linger for a long time.
Colorado is the one state in this country that has found a careful balance of protecting pregnant women, punishing those who are criminally responsible for ending a pregnancy and also protecting Colorado women’s personal rights and access to safe abortion services.
A recent bill, SB15-268, “Offenses Against Unborn Children,” would broaden Colorado’s definition of “person” to include an “unborn child at every stage of gestation from conception until live birth.” We are concerned that any law creating fetal “personhood” will impact access to abortion services in Colorado, as well as open a door to allowing prosecution of pregnant women.
Over the last few years Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado has worked with lawmakers to pass laws that punish crimes against pregnant women and their unborn fetuses. In 2013, the Colorado General Assembly succeeded in passing the Crimes Against Pregnant Women Act, which allows for a felony charge in the first degree for unlawful termination of Ms. Wilkins’ pregnancy. This is an addition to charges of attempted murder and use of a deadly weapon. In this case, the accused attacker is facing upwards of 100 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. There is no “gap” in Colorado law for punishing this horrific crime.
Coloradans have said time and time again they understand the risks of laws seeking to create personhood, such as SB15-268. They understand personhood would open the door to criminalizing doctors and allowing prosecution of women for their own losses such as miscarriages. And because of this they have overwhelmingly voted against “personhood” proposals three times at the ballot box. And the backers of SB15-268, by insisting that legislation be considered which establishes “fetal personhood,” are once again ignoring the values and will of Colorado voters.
This tragedy and crimes against pregnant women should not be used for political expediency. The Colorado legislature has already taken the time to carefully author balanced laws that both punishes those who commit crimes against pregnant women, and protecting women’s rights and access to safe abortion services. Colorado does not need to follow the dangerous road of other states’ who are allowing politics and similar tragedies, to criminalize women and doctors.
Cathy Alderman, Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado,
Vice-President of Public Affairs
