MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Advocates pushed a bill at the Vermont Statehouse on Wednesday that criminalizes violence against pregnant women.
Currently, Vermont law does not recognize a fetus as a person.
Advocates from Vermont Right to Life say this puts pregnant women in danger.
Wednesday, they brought attention to the case of Patricia Blair. In 2009, Blair was almost at full term when she was hit by a drunk driver in Vermont, killing her unborn child.
Mary Hahn Beerworth, the executive director of Vermont Right to Life, says the drunk driver should have been held accountable for the death of the unborn child.
“There’s this rise in crime against pregnant women, and we would like to have this in place before something unfortunate happens to someone else besides Patricia Blair,” Hahn Beerworth said.
Hahn Beerworth says she doesn’t believe the bill will go anywhere because of abortion rights sentiments, but says she will continue coming to the Statehouse every year until it does.