>> WE WERE DROWING IN OCEAN OF
GRIEF.
>> MARK WALLEN IS THE FATHER OF
HOWARD COUNTY SCHOOL TEACHER
LAURA WALLEN. SHE WAS 14 WEEKS
PREGNANT WITH HER SON REID, WHEN
HER BOYFRIEND SHOT AND KILLED
HER.
>> THERE WERE TWO HEARTBEATS
THAT ENDED WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WHO
WENT TO THE FIELD IN DAMASCUS
THINKING SHE WAS GOING TO BE
PROPOSED TO AND INSTEAD WAS SHOT
EXECUTION STYLE IN THE BACK OF
THE HEAD.
>> POLICE CHARGED LAURA’S
BOYFRIEND WITH HER MURDER. BUT
NOT THE MURER OF THE FETUS. HE
LATER COMMITTED SUICIDE.
MARYLAND LAW REQUIRES THAT A
FETUS BE VIABLE AT 24 WEEKS IN
ORDER FOR A HOMICIDE CHARGE TO
BE BROUGHT.
LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION
IN ANNPOLIS WOULD ALLOW MURDER
OR MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES BE
BROUGHT IF THE FETUS IS 8 WEEKS
OLD.
>> IT WOULD REQUIRE PROVING
INTENT.
>> SENATOR JUSTIN READY IS
SPONSORING THE BILL.
>> THIS IS FOR PREMEDITATED COLD
BLOODED, AH, MURDER.
>> THE STATISTICS ARE ALARMING.
HOMICIDE IS THE #1 KILLER OF
PREGNANT WOMEN IN MARYLAND. 77 %
OF DEATHS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN
OCCUR IN THE FIRST 20 WEEKS OF
PREGNANCY.MARYLAND’S PREGNANCY
HOMICIDE RATE IS 10 TIMES THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
>> WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.
THIS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY
WOMEN’S GROUPS.
IT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THOSE
WHO ADVOCATE FOR VICTIMS.
>> BILL SUPPORTERS SAY THE
PROPOSAL AS WRITTEN, HAS AN
EXEMPTION FOR ABORTION.
>> THIS BILL HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH ABORTION.
>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL AFFECT THE
COMMUNITY AND THE STATE IN A WAY
THAT WOULD GIVE A MAN WHO WOULD
WANT TO DO SOMETHING HORRIBLE TO
A WOMAN PAUSE. MAYBE WHAT I’M
THINKING IS DOUBLY NOT THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
>> A SENATE COMMITTEE WILL HEAR
THE BILL TOMORROW.
34 OTHER STATES HAVE SIMILAR
LAWS ON THE BOOKS. THIS PROPOSAL
IS MODELED AFTER CALIFORNI
