Petition to strengthen laws toward preventing and protecting against Domestic Violence

To:  Elected and Appointed Representatives

WHEREAS:
Domestic Violence crosses all socio-economic boundaries, all cultures, and is present in all countries throughout the world.

It is a known fact that domestic violence effects victims and children in critical long-term ways. Children learn what they see and become the victims and batterers of the next generation, thus perpetuating the cycles of violence and abuse.

THEREFORE:
Unless we fully address the act of partner violence by treating it as a serious offense, we will continue to see a rise in domestic violence worldwide.

WHEREAS:
Because Domestic Violence is often treated as a misdemeanor, and misdemeanors are not reported to the NCIC (remaining only on the records of the state in which they occur), a person with a history of domestic assault can go to another state and if he/she batters again, it is treated as a first offense with no previous convictions having any bearing on the case in the new state.

THEREFORE:
We the undersigned urge our appointed and elected representatives to pay serious attention to strengthening domestic violence laws and providing greater protection by treating domestic violence as a serious offense.

We urge you to do all within your power to insure that:
1) a first offense of domestic violence, even if considered a misdemeanor, is filed in all states and not just the state in which it occurred;
2) all previous assaults on record from all states committed by a person who commits domestic violence are taken into consideration when he/she is convicted and sentenced, and;
3) all assaults have a uniform penalty, be they for street assault or domestic violence.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Petition to strengthen laws toward preventing and protecting against Domestic Violence Petition to Elected and Appointed Representatives was created by Those against domestic violence and written by KR, KW, NS (ssisters@warwick.net).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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