(RALEIGH) -- The state Senate voted 45-4 to send "Ethen's Law" to the House for concurrence.  The bill would allow charges in cases of unborn victims of violence.

Sen. Warren Daniel said this is a needed extension of the criminal statute. "It recognizes the unborn child as a separate and distinct person in situations where the mother desires to carry the child to delivery.  This will codify, in our state law, the principle that children who are wanted and desired by their parents have a place in this society and deserve to be protected by our criminal statutes," said Daniel.

As it stands now there is a federal law that protects unborn victims but not a state law.