By Tim Waggoner
OTTAWA, August 26, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Today, Conservative MP Ken Epp announced he will continue to champion his unborn victims of crime bill despite yesterday’s announcement by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson that the Conservative Government will introduce similar legislation – a decision criticized as an obvious attempt to sink Epp’s Bill C-484.
“I definitely will not be withdrawing my bill,” Epp told Sun Media. “They’re quite different. I don’t intend to let up.”
Unlike Epp’s bill, the new Conservative bill does not recognize the separate life of an unborn baby. This key recognition, according to a press release by Epp, is the only point that differentiates his bill from existing legislation – suggesting that the Conservative bill does not offer any new protection to pregnant women.
“Why have increased penalties for attacks on pregnant women if the not-yet-born baby doesn’t matter? Either that child matters so that attacks on pregnant women are more heinous, in which case Bill C-484 is a direct recognition of that reality; or that child doesn’t matter, in which case we don’t need any new law – the current provisions in the Criminal Code already cover the violence against the woman,” said Epp. “The saddest thing of all is that the government Bill likely adds nothing that doesn’t already exist in law.”
The Conservative MP said he hopes Canadians pressure their MPs to stand up in opposition to abuse against pregnant women by voting for Bill C-484 at Third Reading.
“I know the critics of C-484 will continue to spread misinformation. But I continue to hope that thoughtful, everyday Canadians, not influenced by political agendas or strident ideology, will continue to support C-484 – and about 70% of Canadians do, including the vast majority of women across the country,” said Epp.
“I hope they will continue to contact their MPs, now more than ever, and encourage them to continue to support a compassionate and just response to the horrible loss experienced by pregnant women who lose their not-yet-born babies in a violent attack. And I hope, as a result, MPs, regardless of party affiliation, will have the courage to vote in favour of Bill C-484 at Third Reading,” he concluded.
Conservative Party of Canada Kills Unborn Victims of Crime Act with Gutless Alternative
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082510.html
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