A bill beefing up South Carolina's stand-your-ground self-defense law allowing pregnant mothers to use deadly force to protect their unborn children has advanced in the Palmetto State's Senate.
The State newspaper reports that a Senate panel advanced the bill — sponsored by state Sen. Katrina Shealy, a Republican — by a vote of 3-2, on Thursday.
The proposal would protect pregnant women from criminal prosecution if they are forced to use lethal action to defend themselves.
At present, some attacks, such as a punch to the gut, would not necessarily be covered by a stand-your-ground defense even though they could trigger a miscarriage, the newspaper says.
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