BABY BRIANNA'S BILL.....
Baby Brianna Bill Signed Into Law..... The Baby Brianna Bill, or Senate bill 166 is now officially New Mexico law.
For the hundreds who showed up for the signing of the bill, it was a powerful and historic moment.
With the stroke of Governor Bill Richardson's pen, the Baby Brianna Bill was signed into action.
As we've reported, it makes child abuse resulting in death a first degree felony in New Mexico - carrying a mandatory sentence of 30 years in prison.
Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez says, "To see him finally sign it meant there was no going back."
Among those who came to witness the event were two parents.
One was 17 year old father John Moore, whose three week old daughter Jazelle was beaten to death in Truth or Consequences this past January.
Linday Haywood's son Joshua was beaten to death by his stepfather in 1986. Linda wrote a poem for all the children who have died, with no one to speak on their behalf.
Do you remember how you used to bath me at night?
Do you remember how you used to hold me so tight?
Do you remember how you used to make me smell so good"
Do you remember how you used to tell me how you loved me more than anyone else could?
I remember... how you told me that love was not supposed to hurt - but somehow, you forgot about our love.
Somehow.
Senate bill 166 will not be grandfathered.
That means that parents across New Mexico currently awaiting trial for child abuse resulting in death cannot be sentenced under the new law.
No comments:
Post a Comment