Oppose SB 71: Death Penalty for Choosing or Performing Abortions
Senate Bill 71 (Schultheis, Lundberg), “Death Penalty for Choosing or Performing Abortion,” mandates that anyone who causes the death of a fetus be charged with first-degree murder. This bill could have a chilling effect on women’s health care in Colorado and result in law-abiding doctors and women being charged with a capitol offense for performing or choosing an abortion. This is a back-door attempt to ban abortion in Colorado. PLEASE VOTE NO ON SB 71Senate Bill 71 (Schultheis, Lundberg), “Death Penalty for Choosing or Performing Abortion,” mandates that anyone who causes the death of a fetus be charged with first-degree murder. This bill could have a chilling effect on women’s health care in Colorado and result in law-abiding doctors and women being charged with a capitol offense for performing or choosing an abortion. This is a back-door attempt to ban abortion in Colorado. BILL SUMMARY • This bill would create a class 1 felony (death penalty) for the murder of a fetus. • This bill would require a report from the state court administrator regarding the number of fetal deaths caused by attacks on pregnant women. SB 71 WOULD CREATE UNNECESSARY LAWS
• Colorado already has enhanced penalties for the “unlawful termination” of a fetus when the perpetrator knew or should have known the woman was pregnant and she was assaulted or killed. SB 71 COULD CRIMINALIZE DOCTORS
• Doctors who provide an abortion -- a legal medical procedure -- could be charged with first-degree murder, a crime punishable by the death penalty.
• No other legal and constitutionally protected medical procedure carries criminal penalties for doctors or others who facilitate the procedure. SB 71 COULD DENY WOMEN LEGAL HEALTH CARE
• Colorado women, including rape and incest survivors, could be charged with first-degree murder if they choose to terminate their pregnancy at any stage, including the first trimester.
Please vote NO on SB 71
Keep abortion legal, safe and rare
Protect Women, Protect Doctors Click here for a printer-friendly fact sheet. (Please note that you will need Adobe Acrobat to view this file.)
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