It's Congress's Duty to Support Violence Against Women Act

Congress has a duty to support the Violence Against Women Act

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I understand how difficult it is for most people to comprehend the opposition to VAWA... that is until you fall victim to a false domestic violence charge. While I was sitting in jail after my arrest, for the first time in my life I truly understood how vulnerable a man is to false accusations, how easy it is for a vindictive woman to make such charges, even one to whom you had been married for 24 years.

Women who make false charges of domestic violence do so without fear of being held accountable for lying to police.

I was utterly helpless.

I do understand the importance of protecting women from domestic violence, but the balance of power is currently and undeniably weighed towards women.

If a man was truly violent, it seems to me that a woman would have much to fear from making a domestic violence charge whether it is false or true. However, if a man is passive and never showed a violent tendency, that man is a sitting duck for abuse.

Tom Leustek of NJ 9:56AM March 29, 2012

SEN. SCOTT BROWN THROWING FATHERS UNDER THE BUS

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown’s support for the sexist VAWA law effectively throws men and fathers under the bus in the belief this will help him get the 'women's vote' in the upcoming election. Instead , he should certainly lose the vote of every person who supports stable and intact families and due process rights.

Despite some 95% of the 25-50,000 'VAWA' restraining orders being issued annually in Massachusetts without any justification (according to at least one former judge) these individuals, mainly men and fathers, are thrown out of their homes, subject to incarceration, separated from their children and face financial ruin. Support for this law is unconscionable.

Sen. Brown evidently believes his own experience as a child growing up in a broken home with an abusive stepfather represents family life for the majority of Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most biological fathers do not voluntarily leave their family and children but are evicted from their home precisely because of laws like VAWA.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) but only on a party line vote with 10 Democrats in favor and 8 Republicans voting against.

Though he is a co-sponsor of its re-authorization it is clear that Sen. Brown doesn't understand VAWA. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan Sen. Brown talks about 'abuse' as though the law is only intended to respond to acts of violence. He is just plain wrong. VAWA, and its corresponding state laws, at a cost of more than $10 billion, primarily punishes individuals for 'crimes' not yet committed and for such benign actions as verbal arguments and being 'annoying'. In contrast, violent acts can and should be punished by assault and battery laws which also provide the due process rights tossed out the window under VAWA.

The Herald reports that Sen. Brown had time to tour four so-called 'domestic violence' shelters this past week. But, aside from an offer of 15 minutes, he has yet to agree to schedule sufficient time with The Fatherhood Coalition to learn why so many concerned individuals believe VAWA should not be renewed.

Please call Sen. Brown at (202) 224-4543 (DC office) and (617) 565-3170 (Boston) . Tell him to withdraw his sponsorship of this destructive law and ask him to schedule a meeting time with The Fatherhood Coalition so that he can learn why VAWA is indeed a very bad and destructive law.

Let Sen. Brown know in no uncertain terms that he will not have your vote if he supports VAWA.

Fatherhood Coalition of MA 2:37PM March 27, 2012

What most people do not realize is that this policy has a direct effect on the demographics of the society. Why? Because looking at all VAWA excesses and devastation this law brings to a man's life many men decided to stay away from marriage. On the other hand, women are encouraged by this law to file for divorce and file false charges against their ex-husbands after having just one child. The end result is that the birth rate is declining. Vice president Joe Biden was born in a family with four children, House speaker John Boehner was born in a family with twelve children (!). Have you seen a lot of such families these days? We are on a road to decline and barbarian invasion. A separate issue is foreign nationals coming to our country, marrying a US citizen, and then filing false charges against him to get his property and permanent residence in this country under VAWA. This is totally obscene. In the past any country, which could not protect it's own citizens was doomed.

Ilia of MD 9:44PM March 23, 2012

It's Congress's Duty to Support Violence Against ALL Citizens!

Why is violence against male partners acceptable to you?

Susan of CO 2:00AM March 23, 2012

I can see no reason to not pass this bill as soon as possible. What indefensible thought could make anyone vote against this bill? It is the right thing to do, hands down.

Gene Blodgett of MD 5:28PM March 22, 2012

And what duty is that? Is there a Constitutional Amendment that I missed in middle school that states that?

To my knowledge, Congress has a duty to protect the civil rights of all citizens. I do recall the language, "All men are created equal". And I know there has been MUCH Supreme Court and Congressional oversight on that. It is the reason that we have no slavery and the reason that women can vote. And in every instance where we've treated one group of people more preferential than the others, we've learned that it leads to great struggle and anguish in our society.

VAWA places preferential treatment towards women, it violates civil rights of men by injecting criminal law into the civil law books allowing criminal prosecutions without the constitutional protections guaranteed to defendants. VAWA should not be renewed and Congress does NOT have a duty to pass it. At least, not without major revisions to ensure that the protections, programs, and funding it provides protects all our citizens equally.

Ian Mitchell of IL 9:39AM March 22, 2012

This guy is an idiot!

American Fathers Liberation Army of FL 8:47AM March 22, 2012

the VAWA is a oxymoron the woman that vote for it are saying, YES we want our sons to be told that they can't be fathers and our rights to be grandparents to be taken away...

they forget that woman have sons those sons grow to be men and start a family then if they marry a hateful woman the act (law) they voted in will destroy them.. its stupid....

makes me so freaking mad... where the hell is the common since ? don't they know this law the way its set up will destroy the very person who voted for it?

it effects everyone the only true victims here are the sexiest towards men which is discrimination and there kids,

grrr its so pathetic that you all are straight lining this and only seeing a very small picture and not seeing the much bigger picture...

to me it goes to show how much arrogance we have representing the public, don't you see WOMAN are seeing this and are fighting against it that really should be your red flag...

anthony eggleston of MO 11:36PM March 21, 2012

Before you go supporting the VAWA consider the following:

Imagine a country where the local police can walk in and remove you from your house and kids, based on one persons "sworn testimony" no backup, no investigation.

Imagine a country where you are hauled into court, you are not provided a public defender, you are guilty until you prove your innocence, and no trial by a jury of your peers.

Imagine a country where you cannot subpoena any evidence of your accuser.

You don’t have to image, it’s the grand ol USA under VAWA, it’s real and happens thousands of times a day throughout this country.

Craig of VT 8:09PM March 21, 2012

how? making more and more family's get separated, allowing mothers who lie get away with it? preventing children from seeing there fathers as a revenge tactic as a way to "Get Even" how is that fair? all it does is destroy this nation, all am seeing in your statement is screw innocent until proven guilty, screw we are all equal, and screw the future of this nation... by allowing this act to stay your saying to all woman lets spread a cancer across our nation and say its ok to lie, cheat, and be destructive cause the blame will always be on the men not on the woman, show me where woman are not destructive .... what kinda example are you trying to set for our kids ? cause that's who this will effect in our future generations... i say NO NO and HELL NO to the destructiveness of this act to our nation do not allow sexiest be a issue... and if you still disagree then change all the sections that has women in it and replace it with men. and see how it feels to be in our shoes..

be fair am not saying that men dont do stuped things but you cant say women don't...

This is sad to say but in reality i really hope your son marrys a witch of a woman who uses this to her advantage to make him look like a horrable SOB so then and only then after your deniend being able to see your grand kids, and your son is no longer aloud to be a father you will fully understand that this law will and does effect every man and woman a like..

so nieve to think this only effects a hand full of people anyone who votes for this is failing to see what will happen how it could effect there own life.. there only seeing it as a way to get even with someone but what makes me so sad is what about the kids?

how do they get to see the family memebers of that person that is effected by this how are they going to be able to see grandma and grandpa, ants, uncles, cousins, and so forth... has anyone here really thought this out ?

how are you going to sit there and tell a 8 year old kid that there no longer able to see there loved ones ? just based off of a sexiest and bias reason...

then who will be the monsters? trust me the boogieman is real and those kids will know who thy are..

grr look at the stats of what a fatherless home does to our children and then realize the cancer your spreading kids that are denied access to there dads or moms build up hate then who do they take it out on? until this is realized abuse will never be stopped you will only spread it... it effects everyone including those mothers, grandmothers and daughters etc... say no to it

anthony eggleston of MO 7:37PM March 21, 2012

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