The Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee heard a bill on Wednesday, sponsored by Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids), that would close a loophole in Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines that protects violent criminals who murder unborn children.

“I want to make sure that every human life is treated equally under the law,” said Senator Eichorn. “State law is clear that when an unborn baby loses his or her life after their mother is a victim of a violent crime then the perpetrator is subject to criminal penalty. I want to guarantee that none of these violent criminals who murder unborn children get off easy for their heinous crimes.”

The bill creates a first-degree felony murder charge of an unborn child with a 30-year minimum. This is identical to how the parallel crime of first-degree murder is treated. In 2019 the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission voted unanimously that the Legislature resolve this issue.