Alabama Parents of Murdered Pregnant Woman Back Unborn Victims Bill 
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by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
February 17, 2006
Montgomery, AL (LifeNews.com) — Roger and Pam Parker have traveled to Alabama’s capital to seek justice for their slain daughter and grandson. The Parkers hope that the murder of Brandy Parker and her unborn son Brody will push legislators to approve an unborn victims bill, after such legislation has been stalled for the past two years.
Brandy Parker, 23, was shot to death last July. Though she was weeks away from giving birth, the death of her and her child was treated as a single homicide. Some 32 states provide such protection for pregnant women under unborn victims laws.
"I doubt very seriously that any of those that oppose this bill … had ever had the experience of standing over their grandson’s casket and kissing him on the cheek and telling him good-bye, knowing that the state of Alabama doesn’t even recognize that he is a child," said Roger Parker.
Two bills are under consideration in the Alabama legislature. The first bill, which passed the state House earlier this month, is being held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee by Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham). Last year, Smitherman prevented the bill from coming to a vote in the Senate after it was unanimously approved by the House.
The second bill was recommended by the Alabama District Attorneys Association, but would only recognize unborn victims in pregnancies beyond 19 weeks.
Roger Parker finds the latter bill unacceptable, and does not want it to bear his daughter or grandson’s name.
"I cannot support a bill that would not include all children. That would be selfish and self-serving. And I think that Brody’s name needs to be on a bill that represents all children," said Parker.
Governor Bob Riley appears to support the House measure instead of that one, according to the Associated Press.
"Passage of the House version of this legislation is vital to ensuring that all life in Alabama, including unborn life, is protected from violent crime," Riley said.
