On September 27, 2022, Governor Newsom signed what amounts to a perinatal infanticide bill, AB 2223 (along with twelve other pro-abortion bills). AB 2223 is especially egregious because it prevents coroners from investigating the deaths “related to or following known or suspected self-induced or criminal abortion,” including deaths of babies during the “perinatal” period – which is up to 28 days after birth. The bill also protects individuals from criminal or civil liability for the death of an infant during the perinatal period, if the death is “due to causes that occurred in utero.” As we have explained extensively, this new law may very well have the effect of decriminalizing infanticide.
AB 2223 “changes California law in a way that radically undermines protection for newborns.” While the law looks like it prevents criminal or civil charges from being brought only in limited circumstances, by restricting coroners from conducting investigations, and by including a provision that imposes hefty penalties for a violation of the law, California has effectively removed protections for newborns during at least the first 28 days of their lives.
This is infanticide. Just like abortion, it is the murder of an innocent human being. But in this case, there’s no opportunity for the Left to say “it’s just a blob of cells.” This law is not only allowing but requiring that the death of babies—who are born alive, citizens of the United States, and should be afforded all the rights that our Constitution is designed to protect, including the most basic of all, the right to life—go un-investigated and unpunished.
The passage of this bill into law is a perfect example of the fact that radical abortionists will never stop pushing to expand the killing of babies.
In addition to AB 2223, Governor Newsom signed twelve other bills that expand abortion in California: