Petition to Strengthen Domestic Violence Laws

Petition to Strengthen Domestic Violence Laws

Sir, Women Against Domestic Violence, Inc (WADV) board of directors and members wish to present the following petition for your consideration. We feel it is an issue long ignored and not seen as the crime it is. DV takes on all forms of abuse, beatings, verbal, sexual, emotional, the most horrendous is permanent disability or death of the victim. All victims and their families are left with permanent scars, most invisible, some times the victim never recovers and Sir, no one is ever completely or totally healed. We learn to live with the scars.
We are requesting the revision of all federal, state and local statues governing Domestic Violence (DV) been changed from a misdemeanor to a felony crime,
Mandating the abuser be incarcerated to the fullest extent of the law.
Mandating the abuser undergo intense therapy until they see how heinous a crime they have committed
Mandating restitution for all medical bills, for any damage they have caused
Mandating the abuser pay child support
Mandating the abusers offenses be known in all states.
Please know that it is estimated 4 million American women experience a serious assault by an intimate partner during an average 12-month period. You should be aware of the following facts:
1. Domestic Violence is statistically consistent across racial and ethnic boundaries.
2. 70\% of intamate homicide victims are female.
3. 40 - 60\% of men who abuse women also abuse children.
4. 27 \% of domestic homicide victims were children.
5. During the six months following an episode of domestic violence, 32\% of battered women are victimized again.
6. Past and current victims of domestic violence are over-represented in the welfare population. The majority of welfare recipients have experienced domestic abuse in their adult lives, and a high percentage are currently abused.
7. 15 -50\% of abused women report interference from their partner with education, training or work.
8. Children live what they learn, abuse becomes their way of life.
9. The general public and local law enforcement agencies do not perceive FV as a crime not that is has grown to the problem it is today.
10. Most local law enforcement agencies do not want to be bothered nor become involved in the horrific crime.
11. Most DV survivors never receive child support, leaving most to depend on welfare, and local agencies to survive.
12. Most DV victims are never the same, some are physically disabled.
WADV feels that all persons have a right to exist without fear on this earth. If you agree and would like to help in our effort to strengthen laws on Domestic Violence, sign the petition below. Your signature along with those of other concerned individuals will be forwarded to President George W. Bush, your Congressman and Representatives.

Thank you for helping to make the world a safer place