Puerto Rico Governor Recognizes Unborn Babies as Human Beings
On Thursday, Puerto Rico’s Governor Jennifer González moved to officially recognize the identities of babies in the womb. According to reports, the Republican leader signed a new bill aimed at amending legal definitions to affirm that fetuses are considered human beings. This amendment is part of Senate Bill 923.
The adjustment modifies a clause in the territory’s criminal code that relates to definitions of murder.
González announced the new legislation on her social media platform on Thursday morning:
As reported by KVUE, Governor González stated, “This bill aims to maintain consistency between civil and criminal provisions by recognizing unborn children as human beings.” She is a Republican and a supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, expressed her approval, saying “Awesome. Great bold leadership,” in a post regarding this development.
Moreover, Pastor Jordan Wells pointed out that the legislation is indicative of Puerto Rican conservatism. He commented, “It’s time for all the critics and mainland elites who have called Puerto Ricans ‘progressive’ or ‘liberal’ to make a big apology,” asserting that the cultural heart of Puerto Rico is deeply rooted in conservative values, such as faith, family, and respect for life.
In December, González had previously enacted another Senate bill that recognized the status of a fetus as a “natural person.” This law stipulates that a newborn baby is recognized as a natural person beginning at conception, regardless of the pregnancy stage. Sponsored by Senate President Tomas Rivera Schatz and co-sponsored by several senators, this law does not alter the status of criminals or create new unborn child protections. Critics suggesting it undermines women’s rights are said to lack a factual basis.
According to the article from Fox, this proposed amendment coincides with new legislation that would classify the intentional killing of a pregnant woman and her unborn child as first-degree murder. Supporters have claimed the law aims to provide clarity between civil and criminal statutes, emphasizing stricter penalties for killing pregnant women without intending to address abortion. Critics, however, contend that the adjustments could lead to the eventual criminalization of the procedure in Puerto Rico, where it remains legal.
