http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...

<snip>

RICHMOND, Feb. 5 -- The Virginia House of Delegates gave tentative approval Monday to a bill to make it a felony for a woman to cause her own miscarriage but rejected a proposal to give fertilized eggs and fetuses the "right to enjoyment of life."

With the legislative session nearing its midpoint, the House considered a half-dozen bills aimed at restricting abortion or cracking down on people who harm fetuses.

In a flurry of votes, the House gave preliminary approved to a bill that would require doctors to give women the option of viewing an ultrasound before an abortion. It also agreed to require doctors to give women information about how anesthesia can be provided to a fetus during the procedure.

Two bills that would make it a crime to force a miscarriage received preliminary approval in the House. Under one, a person other than the mother could be charged with involuntary manslaughter for causing a miscarriage. Under the other, a woman who causes her own miscarriage could be charged with a felony and face up to 10 years in prison. The legislation would not outlaw the morning-after pill.

</snip> More at the link posted up top.

This was posted in the Choice forum, but I think this kind of legislation needs more attention. Can you say "slippery slope" boys and girls?

For a considerably more disturbing read (lengthy but worthwhile) - and a glimpse into how one step can lead to another and another until things are violently out of hand - http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/magazine...