‘Murder by proxy’: Bill imposing stiffer penalty on those convicted of guiding suicide passes Pa. House – By Jan Murphy (Penn Live) / May 20 2020
State lawmakers are moving a bill that would impose a harsher penalty for those convicted of causing or aiding suicide of a minor or anyone with autism or an intellectual disability.
The measure won passage by a 188-14 vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. It is named “Shawn’s Law” in memory of 25-year-old Shawn Shatto, who committed suicide a year ago in her parents’ Newberry Township home in York County after receiving guidance to do so from an online chat forum.
“The action by the House today sends a strong message that aiding or encouraging someone to take his or her own life will not be tolerated in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York County, the bill’s sponsor. “This is nothing more than murder by proxy and, in addition to being a shameful and cowardly act, should carry a heavy penalty for those who commit this crime.”
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