Ray Rice and the NFL — and the 20th Anniversary of VAWA
This past week, the Baltimore Ravens fired running back Ray Rice due to the emergence of a new video from TMZ that depicts him hitting his wife. Rice had been previously suspended by the NFL and indicted for third-degree aggravated assault due to the incident, but has now been officially cut from the team roster.
There has been a major outcry against Rice, shedding more light on the issue of domestic violence in America. Rice's wife came out to defend her husband and attacked the media for meddling. Other victims of domestic abuse are using Twitter to express their sentiment and share their own stories, using the hashtags #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft.
Members of the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell, describing their frustration with how the NFL had chosen to deal with the controversy. One of the Representatives that signed the letter, Suzan DelBene (D-WA), stated "As an NFL fan, I am greatly disappointed in the way the organization has handled this serious and disturbing incident. It is critical that, going forward, the NFL ensures their policies relating to domestic violence are public and transparent, and I hope that all professional sports leagues take notice and do the same."
In the letter, Congressional leaders expressed to Goodell, "We welcome your recent willingness to change the NFL’s policies regarding issues of domestic violence, and we also believe other major professional sports leagues should consider making their policies public and reviews transparent as well." (Read the entire letter).
Domestic violence, both among adults and teens, continues to be a serious issue in America. As we discuss the Ray Rice incident, it is worth noting that today is the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. Vice President Biden reflected on how far we've come in our willingness to address domestic violence:
"Even just 20 years ago, few people wanted to talk about violence against women as a national epidemic, let alone something to do something about. No one even back then denied that kicking your wife in the stomach, or smashing her in the face, or pushing her down the stairs in public was repugnant. But our society basically turned a blind eye. And hardly anyone ever intervened, directly intervened — other than my father and a few other people I knew.
"And no one — virtually no one called it a crime. It was a family affair. It was a family affair. Laws — state laws when we attempted at a state or a federal level to design laws to prevent actions that were said that we now are celebrating, we were told, I was told, many of us were told that it would cause the disintegration of the family. That was the phrase used. It would cause the disintegration of the family." (Read Vice President Biden's full remarks.)
Bills Addressing Domestic Violence
There are several proposals pending before Congress to address domestic violence, stalking and dating violence. Weigh in on POPVOX:
- HR 4906
Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act
(And S 1290 in the Senate) to protect more victims of domestic violence by preventing their abusers from possessing or receiving firearms, and for other purposes. "Existing federal laws designed to protect victims of domestic violence from gun violence are important, but gaps remain,” according to the bill sponsor. “The Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act would close these loopholes to better protect victims and survivors of domestic violence".
- HR 393
Domestic Violence Judicial Support Act
To consolidate, improve, and reauthorize programs that support families and victims in the justice system affected by domestic violence. According to the bill sponsor, “For over a year, the larger VAWA reauthorization has been held hostage by the extreme right and, as a result, women everywhere have suffered. The critical and specialized training and resources provided under this bill help train judges to understand the dynamics of domestic violence and child custody cases. Additionally, this bill will help ensure that these programs are funded in any final compromise agreement.
- HR 840
To improve services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Increases the amount of funding used for rape crisis centers and other programs that aid victims of domestic violence from 0.125% to 1.5%. for U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, DC, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
- HR 3566
Domestic Violence Criminal Disarmament Act
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for a grant program regarding firearms. According to the bill sponsor, the act "would encourage states to adopt baseline policies that (1.) require officials to routinely take into account whether a gun is present in a serious domestic violence situation and (2.) take steps to protect the victim by removing the gun from the equation if it is illegally possessed or determined to be a threat to the victim. As we continue to debate our budgetary priorities, the farm bill, comprehensive immigration reform, and other important issues, I encourage my colleagues to join me in my fight to turn domestic violence victims into survivors."
- HR 1177
Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act
According to the bill sponsor, the act "would ensure that all abused women, whether married or not, are provided the same protections. In addition, this bill would provide greater security for domestic violence survivors by protecting them during the time when they are most at risk, in the minutes, hours and days immediately after leaving a violent partner. An abusive ex-boyfriend with a gun is no less lethal than an abusive ex-husband with a gun."
- HRes 392
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Supporting the goals and ideals of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should continue to raise awareness of domestic violence and its devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities, and support programs designed to end domestic violence in the United States. According to the bill sponsor, "we must rededicate ourselves to the goal of ending violence against women and helping heal the lives of domestic violence survivors as well as their families.” “The impact of domestic violence is too pervasive. This issue affects women and men in all communities, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, nationality, educational background, and socioeconomic status. This is why combating domestic violence should be a universal priority."
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.
