Lawmakers look at crimes against pregnant women

8:12 PM, Feb 19, 2013   |    comments
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DENVER (AP) - Crimes against pregnant woman would be punished with a new statute that Colorado Democrats are proposing. 

The debate over punishment for killing a pregnant woman's child has sparked fervent discussion from both sides of the abortion debate.

Lawmakers say they're trying to avoid a fight over abortion, and focus on creating a new law to properly punish crimes against pregnant women. 

A bill up for a vote in the House Judiciary committee Tuesday would create new felony charges for unlawful termination of a pregnancy. 

The bill also creates an offense for vehicular unlawful termination of a pregnancy. 

Republicans have tried passing bills to create such punishments, but Democrats have argued their proposals create a route to ban or restrict abortions.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)