Voters Say, “Fix V.A.W.A. Now!”

How many times have you heard of a well intentioned government program that ended up
doing more harm than good? The Violence Against Women Act has sadly become one of the
most harmful and costly laws on the books.
 
1. Fails to He Help Victims of Violence
 Men and women are equally likely to abuse.
Numerous studies have shown abuse-reduction
programs are flatly ineffective, and sometimes
harmful. A recent Harvard University study found
that mandatory arrest laws increase partner
homicides by 54%.
“We have no evidence to date that VAWA has led
to a decrease in the overall levels of violence
against women.” — Angela Moore Parmley,
PhD, Department of Justice
 

2. Mistreats Women
Women complain that abuse shelter staff are often
unqualified and do not allow women to bring their
adolescent male children.
One recent report, “Congressional Guidelines for
Abusing Women,” reveals how abuse shelters bar
residents from going to work, force women to attend
shelter-sponsored “socials,” and subject them to
sexual harassment.
“I thought the system was there to help me, but
instead it ended up becoming my greatest
enemy.” – Sarah McPherson, victim of domestic
violence
 

3. Harms Families
Domestic violence programs ban couples from
getting partner counseling or mediation. The couple
is pressured to separate and divorce, even if the
alleged abuse is one-time or minor.
 

 4. Costs Taxpayers Billions of $$$
Each year the federal government spends $1 billion
for domestic violence programs and services. These
programs often turn away victims of abuse, promote
family break-up, and force children to grow up in a
single-parent household.
The resulting social pathologies – juvenile
delinquency, teenage pregnancy, and the like -- cost
taxpayers many billions of dollars each year.
 

5. Promotes False Allegations
The Violence Against Women Act uses such a broad
definition of “violence” that false allegations are
often made to gain an unfair edge in court.
Talk-show host David Letterman was charged with
domestic violence. He had allegedly harassed a
New Mexico woman he had never met by sending
her mental telepathic messages.
 

6. Hurts Black Communities
As a result of mandatory arrest laws that disregard
the civil rights of the accused, African-American
communities have been disproportionately affected.
“Criminalization of social problems has led to
mass incarceration of men, especially young men
of color.” -- Ms. Foundation for Women
The Time for Reform is Now
The domestic violence industry doesn’t care that
American families are being harmed by false
allegations of abuse, and is no longer responsive to
the needs of victims.
 

 
Tell your elected officials, “Fix VAWA Now!” A coalition of over 100 organizations has come together to make VAWA effective for victims and safe for families: www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Resolution.pdf
 

For more information, contact:
RADAR: Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting
P.O. Box 1404, Rockville, MD 20849
Internet : www.mediaradar.org
E-mail : info@mediaradar.org
 

Women’s Groups Criticize VAW, VAWA Women’s groups are saying domestic violence laws are hurting more than they help:
• Independent Women’s Forum: “Men may become alienated from and hostile to the system in the conviction that it is stacked
against them and unjustly favors women.”
 

Ms. Foundation for Women: “Involvement with the criminal legal system has not been a positive or helpful experience;…some
women are actively harmed.”