This is an update from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC).

A national Fox News / Opinion Dynamics poll released April 25 found that 84% of registered voters agree that a double homicide charge is appropriate in the much-publicized Peterson murder case in California. Only 7% said that a one-victim charge would be appropriate. (See poll question and responses below.)

This poll speaks to the heart of the issue addressed by the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (S. 146), which would recognize as a legal victim any unborn child injured or killed during the commission of a federal crime. The bill has passed the House twice (in 1999 and 2001), but has never been taken up in the Senate because of opposition from NARAL and other groups that insist that these crimes have only one victim, not two.

On April 25, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said, "The President does believe that when an unborn child is injured or killed during the commission of a crime of violence, the law should recognize what most people immediately recognize, and that is that such a crime has two victims." Fleischer said the President wants Congress to approve the Unborn Victims of Violence Act "this year." For more information, see: www.nrlc.org/Unborn_victims/index.html.

FOX NEWS/OPINION DYNAMICS POLL

Conducted April 22-23, 2003; surveyed 900 registered voters; margin of error +/-3% (release, 4/25/03).

If Scott Peterson is convicted of killing his pregnant wife Laci, do you think he should be charged with one count of homicide for murdering his wife or two counts of homicide for murdering both his wife and unborn son?
One count 7%
Two counts 84%
Something else (vol.) 1%
Not sure 8%

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's major pro-life organization, representing affiliates in all 50 states.

VSHL is the Virginia affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.