New Hampshire Accidentally Passes Law Allowing Women to Kill People

Chalk it up to not checking your work. New Hampshire lawmakers had to scramble to close a legal loophole on Thursday after critics pointed out that the language in Senate Bill 66 could be interpreted to allow pregnant women to commit murder without being charged. 

The Republican-led legislature passed the bill earlier this month which was meant to define a fetus as a person after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Anyone who caused the death of such a fetus would be liable for homicide or manslaughter charges. 

New Hampshire's bill is similar to legislation in 38 other states - with one notable exception. The language in the the bill was so vague, people pointed out it could be used by pregnant women to murder anyone with impunity. 

The offending line in the bill was noticed a week after the bill initially passed. Eyebrows were raised at a line reading, "any act committed by the pregnant woman" or their doctors would possibly be legal, even "in cases of second-degree murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, or causing or aiding suicide."

Now, there are other laws on the books that prevent legislation that would produce an 'absurd result' so, even the most frantic pregnant woman wouldn't be able to get away with killing anyone. But still, for one brief, glorious moment, every rage-fueled fantasy was possible. 

Lawmakers quickly closed the loophole with a legislative maneuver meant to clean up spelling and grammatical errors. The updated text made it through the New Hampshire legislature along a party-line vote. 

Hopefully New Hampshire politicians will remember to check their work next time. 


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