Grandmas Say, “No Extra Money for VAWA Until I Get to See my Grandkids!â€Â
This flyer was distributed on Capitol Hill yesterday. You can join in this important effort by calling your elected officials at 202-224-3121 and say “NO! to extra funding until the DV industry cleans up its act!”
Grandmas Say, “No Extra Money for VAWA Until I Get to See my Grandkids!â€Â
This week grandmothers, grandfathers, and parents are meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to talk about the current epidemic of false allegations of domestic violence in the United States — and the need to not appropriate a single extra penny of federal money until the domestic violence industry cleans itself up.
These baseless accusations are the result of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Working the System, Harming Kids
Each year 2-3 million restraining orders are issued, usually without evidence of violence.
The Massachusetts Trial Court reports half of restraining orders don’t involve even an allegation of violence. And according to one analysis, 8 out of 10 of such orders are trivial or false. Which means about 2 million false or unnecessary claims of domestic violence are filed each year.
Such orders are issued following a 5-minute court hearing where the defendant is not allowed to be present to refute the charges. These orders typically ban the parent and grandparent from seeing — or even speaking with — their children and grandchildren. In turn, these orders are used as a legal ploy in child custody cases.
“Everyone knows that restraining orders and orders to vacate are granted to virtually all who apply.†— Elaine Epstein, former president of the Massachusetts Bar Association
Obama’s Proposed FY2011 Budget: Adding Fuel to the Fire
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal wants to provide an additional $130 million for programs that promote false allegations of abuse. This is how that extra money would be used to harm families:
• $9 million for the Legal Assistance for Victims program – The LAV program provides free legal aid — but never requires accusers to provide evidence of violence.
• $100 million for abuse shelters – Shelters don’t require residents to provide any evidence of violence, and advise women to seek restraining orders to bolster their legal strategy.
“Women with almost no marital problems are declared abused and are coached by the staff to go to court and get a protective order against their husbands.†– Former shelter worker at Bethany House in Alexandria, Virginia
No Increased Funding for Harmful VAWA Programs!
Most persons can’t relate to the social, financial, and psychological devastation caused by being falsely labeled as an “abuser†— until it happened to members of our families.
Grantees of federally-funded domestic violence programs need to require “victims†to provide proof of violence before restraining orders are issued, arrests are made, legal assistance offered, or shelter services provided.
Until that happens, vote “NO†on additional funding for domestic violence programs in FY 2011.
| More from Abusegate Bob
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