Listen as Larry spoke with Maryland State Senator Justin Ready about a bill he’s putting forth to change prosecution of manslaughter cases to include the death of an unborn child.
O’Connor: Please lay out what you want to make law in Maryland.
Ready: Well right now in Maryland we’re one of twelve states that does not allow for the prosecution of the murder of an unborn child if the child is less than 23 – 24 weeks. We had a very disturbing situation in the fall where a Howard County teacher, whose family leaves in Montgomery County, was murdered. She was pregnant, 14 weeks pregnant with a boy, and was murdered by her boyfriend. And he murdered her specifically because she was pregnant, of course murdered both her and the unborn child. And sadly we’re not able to prosecute for the death of this unborn baby and it’s because of Maryland’s law. And what I was most concerned about in addition to the fact that we need to get justice for victims and their families is what would have happened if this young woman had survived but the baby died. You would not have been able to go after the guy for murder. So we’re trying to change the law and that’s that’s the bill. It’s called Laura and Reid’s Law and it’s Senate Bill 533.
O’Connor: It’s a very fascinating issue. And I’m so glad that you’ve brought this forward. And by the way, especially in this case because part of the motive of the murder was the existence of this unborn child, right?
Ready: That’s right and actually statistically, what’s shocking is that women are much more likely, the percentages vary a little bit, but John Hopkins has done a lot of research that women are much more likely to be abused while they are pregnant than at any other time. And over the last several years in Maryland the leading cause … women have been the leading cause of maternal women’s deaths is murder in Maryland, even ahead of car accidents, it’s incredible. And so we’re trying to say this is a women’s health issue and a women’s safety issue as much as it is anything else.
O’Connor: Absolutely. And it’s funny because women’s health is sort of bandied about these days to really mean one of two things, either birth control or abortion and that’s what fascinating. Does your bill say anything or touch on in any way on regulating, restricting, or outlawing abortion in the state of Maryland?
Ready: Well no and I’m actually pro-life myself. The House sponsors a women who’s a pro-choice legislature. She has a different position than I do. So I have my own views about that but the bill, we very specifically make it clear we are not talking about any sort of medical or abortive procedures. It’s also not even talking about somebody pushing a pregnant woman down and taking her purse and the baby dies. That’s not what this referring to, that’s certainly a separate offense. This is saying if you, in a cold blooded fashion murder an unborn child at any age, you should receive the maximum. They should be able to charge you with the maximum penalty. And that’s what happened in this case. And so we’re definitely pleading with people to not bring the whole PC politics thing into it, like arguing about that issue because this is about justice for victims and safety.
State Senator Ready concluded the interview by sharing the inspiration behind the law:
O’Connor: And let’s be clear this was Laura Wallen who was murdered. She had named her unborn child Reid. You’re naming this bill after her, The Laura and Reid’s Law. Mark and Gwen Wallen, the parents of Laura Wallen, are supporting this. They were with you when you announced this bill in Annapolis, yes?
Ready: Well, they’re really the ones that brought, I was introduced to them through some mutual acquaintances and they’re really the ones that wanted to do a bill. And I of course was very honored to be able to work with them on it. And they came to me because I’m on a good committee in the Senate to work on this issue. And yes they are amazingly brave and courageous people. And they want to make sure if this ever happens to somebody again, which we know sadly it will, that they want to be sure the death of that baby can be prosecuted the way it should be.
If you are interested in supporting this law, contact your State Delegate or State Senator by visiting, http://mdelect.net/. Laura and Reid’s Law (Senate Bill 533).
Photo Credit – Senator Ready’s Facebook page
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