The Unborn Victims of Violence Act (Update)

December 3, 2009

FAMILIES OF NC MURDER VICTIMS URGE PASSAGE OF UNBORN VICTIMS LEGISLATION
On Saturday, October 31, 2009, three NC families spoke at the Chapel Hill, NC. Library, hosted by Jeff Gerber of Union County, NC in support of The Unborn Victims of Violence Act. The Unborn Victims bill, according to these families, would bring them justice by recognizing in law the second victim in these horrific murders: the unborn child. The bill would also allow the State to prosecute for two murders.
Among those urging passage of The unborn victims of violence bill were Michele Dye, Kevin Blaine, and Effie Steele. Dye, whose daughter and the unborn child she was carrying were both brutally murdered in Gaston County last year, called upon House Judiciary Chair Deborah Ross and Speaker Joe Hackney to allow the Unborn Victims a proper hearing in the Judiciary committee, followed by a debate and recorded vote on the House floor.
Blaine, of Raleigh, is the father of Jennifer (“Jenna”) Nielsen. (www.justice4jenna.org) Jenna, whose murderer has not yet been apprehended, was 8 1/2 months pregnant with her unborn son, Ethen, when, on June 14, 2007, they were both murdered in Raleigh, while on her early morning delivery route of USA today.
Effie Steele, of Durham, is the mother of murdered victim Ebony Robinson, and the grandmother to her beloved grandson, Elijah, who she was carrying. Ebony was only 21 years old when she was shot and murdered in Hillsborough, NC. Ebony’s unborn son, Elijah, would have been born only two short weeks later. Ebony and Elijah, whose pictures were displayed at the press conference, were laid to rest in a casket with the mothers arm around Elijah.
“We don’t know if Elijah would have been a president, a doctor, an attorney, or a teacher because he was not given that chance. But most of all, he could have been a contributing member of society if he had been given the chance to enter this world and make his mark in history. I felt betrayed and robbed when the murderer of Ebony and Elijah was not charged with double homicide and was not made to pay for the life of my grandson. He should have been charged with and punished with two life sentences without the possibility of parole instead of the one he received,” Steele said.
Jeff Gerber the founder of “The Justice For All Coalition” recognizes that these families have suffered a horrific loss of not just one, but two loved and cherished individuals in their immediate families due to an act of senseless violent crime. As the victims’ families argued Saturday, October 31, 2009, public policy should reflect the loss of two victims, not just one. The laws of thirty-six other states recognize the unborn child as a second victim as well as the federal government.
Visit: www.thejusticeforallcoalition.com

Jeff Gerber
Unionville
704-564-0065

Posted by Chairman | Filed Under General