Bill stiffens domestic abuse penalties

Comments Comment on this article3

Published: May 22, 2008

Legislation that increases penalties for anyone who beats a pregnant woman is on its way to Gov. Brad Henry's desk.

Advertisement

The measure received final passage in the state House and Senate Thursday.

The measure's author, Rep. Rebecca Hamilton of Oklahoma City, says the main cause of death for pregnant women is murder, usually at the hands of the father of the baby. The bill will allow law enforcement to intervene in domestic abuse before it gets that far.

Under the bill, anyone convicted of beating a pregnant woman would face a minimum sentence of one year in prison.

Anyone attacking a pregnant woman in an attempt to cause a miscarriage would face a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and abusers convicted multiple times would face at least 10 years in prison.


Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford
Bookmark and Share

Related Topics: U.S. State Government, U.S. Government, Culture and Lifestyle, Law Enforcement, Crime, Health and Fitness, Medicine, Special Interest Groups, Politics, Medical Specializations, U.S. Politics, Criminal Sentencing and Punishment, U.S. Congressional News, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Family, Domestic Violence, Women's Issues, Miscarriage


Comments

Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.

Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.

Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).

   
Did you not read the article? The leading cause of death of pregnant women is murder! What does vindictive women or church freaks have to do with that?
Margaret, Holdenville - May 23, 2008 10:16 AM
Report as inappropriate
Abuse by male or female should not take place. I do think the authorities should make sure abuse has taken place. There are an awfully lot of vindictive females that will scream abuse just to get even with the male.
Glenna, Oklahoma City - May 22, 2008 8:35 PM
Report as inappropriate
It's not about the woman who gets beaten, you understand. It's about the church freaks trying to outlaw abortion.
stinkerpants, Oklahoma City - May 22, 2008 7:00 PM
Report as inappropriate