Changing Indiana’s feticide law

(I wanted to blog about this earlier, and just forgot with my vacation last week.)

My good friend, State Senator Jim Merritt has taken on a good fight.

Merritt said that he and State Rep Mike Murphy plan to introduce a bill that would amend the murder statute to include a fetus at any state of development.

“The expectation of a child is a remarkable feeling… to have that stolen from you is just tragic,” Merritt said.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has been calling for longer prison sentences for people convicted of harming a fetus during crimes against pregnant women since the arrest of a man who allegedly robbed a bank in Indianapolis and shot a bank teller. The man, Brian Kendrick, allegedly shot bank teller Katherin Shuffield, who was five months pregnant.

Kendrick has been charged with the shooting and faces four to 16 years if he is convicted.

Merritt and other supporters hope to change the feticide law during next year’s legislative session.

(Read more after the leap)

Lawmakers may be able to avoid the controversy by simply expanding penalties for existing offenses. If feticide was a more serious class of felony, it could carry a prison sentence of 20 to 50 years.

“This is not a reproductive rights issue,” said Brizzi, the Marion County prosecutor. “This is protecting unborn children at conception.”

Murphy, Merritt and Brizzi said this change will have bipartisan support. But, so far no Democrats have signed on.

(This post in also available at Indy’s Conservative Hardball)