PROBLEM:

North Carolina is the only southern state that does not have a marriage defense amendment in its state constitution. In 2009, North Carolina state legislators had the opportunity to enact a constitutional amendment declaring marriage as the union between one man and one woman. However, the Defense of Marriage Act, introduced this session in the House and in the Senate as was blocked for a fifth straight session by opponents in committee.

Without a constitutional amendment, current marriage laws could come under attack in the courtroom from same-sex couples who seek a marriage license or same-sex couples who move to North Carolina from another state that previously recognized their union as marriage.

SOLUTION:

North Carolina needs to strengthen its existing marriage laws by passing a Marriage Defense Act.

PROBLEM:

When a crime is committed against a pregnant woman, North Carolina does not legally recognize the unborn child’s death or injury as a separate crime.  The unborn are not protected from acts of violence.

SOLUTION:

Pass a law to establish separate criminal offenses for the death or injury of an unborn child resulting from a violent crime against the pregnant mother.