Guam § 17 - Legislative Statement and Intent.

§ 17. Legislative Statement and Intent.

(a) I Liheslaturan Guåhan understands that the physical harm or death

of an expectant woman could equally result in the physical harm and death

to the unborn child in her womb. For the woman who desires to carry and

care for her unborn child to term, the protection and safety of the living

being in her womb is something she should not have to worry about. To this

statement, former President George W. Bush once expressed, “Any time an

expectant mother is a victim of violence, two lives are in the balance, each

deserving protection, and each deserving justice.”

(b) I Liheslaturan Guåhan finds that “The Unborn Victims of Violence

Act of 2016” (Act) is a step toward protecting an expectant mother and her

unborn child, and recognizes that an unborn child is a legal victim if he or

she is injured or killed during the commission of crimes of violence.

(c) I Liheslaturan Guåhan believes and further recognizes that while an

expectant mother has a legal right to determine the fate of her unborn child,

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she should also be assured that any harm to her unborn child caused from

unwarranted and unexpected harm directed at her will result in additional

criminal sanctions against the responsible person(s).