Urge legislators to support bill to protect fetuses

To the editor:

A summary of a Newsweek-Princeton Survey finds that 46 percent of Americans believe human life begins at fertilization, and 12 percent believe life begins when the embryo implants in the womb. Eighty-four percent believe homicide charges should be brought on behalf of a fetus killed in the womb, 28 percent would bring charges of homicide once the fetus is able to breath on its own outside of the womb, and only 9 percent believe that charges should never be allowed.

This poll is pertinent to the planned Senate debate on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a bill that would recognize the two-victim principle in federal crimes of violence. The majority of citizens believe that an unborn child can be a victim at any point during prenatal development. The position that pro-abortion groups demand is that the law must never recognize an unborn child as a crime victim. Only 9 percent of those polled agree with the pro-abortion people.

If you are one of the 84 percent who believe unborn children should be protected from violent crimes, please contact your legislators in Washington and ask them to vote yes for the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Election time is near, your opinions are always important, especially near election cycles.

CHRISTINE E. STEPHENS

Cape Girardeau