This week, charges were brought against Scott Peterson in the alleged murder of his wife Laci. However, when reading about this, something struck me as a bit peculiar. The district attorney brought charges against Scott allowing him to seek the death penalty under special circumstances.

These circumstances had to include that Scott Peterson committed more than one murder, and an additional complaint to compensate for these circumstances was filed under the heading “Termination of Pregnancy.” It reads, “During the commission of the murder of Laci Denise Peterson, the defendant with knowledge that [she] was pregnant did inflict injury on [her] resulting in the termination of her pregnancy.”

First of all, let me state that I am in no way, shape or form defending Scott Peterson’s alleged actions. But these charges raise an interesting question: How can Scott Peterson be charged for murder, or “termination of pregnancy,” of his unborn child, when abortion clinics are allowed to carry out the same actions thousands of times a day? Is there a code that renders the killing of an unborn child perfectly acceptable in one situation and cause for the death penalty in another?

I personally applaud the prosecutor in this case for bringing charges of murder against the defendant for the killing of an unborn child. If Scott Peterson actually did kill his wife, then he did so with full knowledge of not only taking her life but the life of an unborn child as well, an act that anyone with a sense of human value would view as vile and heinous. This sense of value should not change when a woman walks into an abortion clinic with the full knowledge that she will be ending her own unborn child’s life.

Pro-abortionists, pick your camp. This is not about a “choice.” If you truly believe that the taking of an unborn life is acceptable, then your opinions should not be swayed, and you should be abhorred that Scott Peterson faces the death penalty.

However, I believe that all human life is sacred and hope the person who committed these atrocious crimes is brought to justice. If there is good to come of this ordeal, let it be that the hypocritical stance of our government on the nature of human essence is brought to the forefront.

Jason Iwig

Junior

Elementary Education