Saturday, January 12, 2013

COURT RULES UNBORN IS 'CHILD'


Judges 'affirmed the value of all life, including those most vulnerable of all' - Bob Unruh/WND ◼ Image Source

A ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court has concluded that a reference in state law that prevents exposing children to dangerous chemicals also protects an unborn child.

While the decision itself is unrelated to abortion, in a court where at least one justice has advocated overturning Roe v. Wade the decision today in Ankrom v. State undoubtedly will be referenced again.

The case upheld the convictions of two women, Hope Ankrom of Coffee County and Amanda Kimbrough of Colbert County, who were prosecuted for using drugs during their pregnancies.

The state law originally was intended to prevent parents from operating meth labs around children, or allowing children to be in meth labs, and does not mention the unborn.

But the decision said “The plain meaning of the word ‘child’ in the chemical endangerment statute includes unborn children.”