Congresswoman Dingell,
During your push of the VAWA's gun bans you spoke about a 500% increase in fatality of DV victims when the abuser had a gun. However, you never mentioned Michigan's officer involved domestic violence crisis and the state's process of allowing abusing law enforcement officers to retain their guns and their jobs via the Lautenberg DV Gun Ban Loophole (MCL 769.4a).
MCL 769.4a has practically decriminalized DV - allowing an abuser who has committed any violent act of DV (less than murder) to receive a sentence of only probation and to be promptly handed back their job and duty gun. MCL 769.4a has been used to return guns to abusing officers, since the enactment of the Lautenberg Amendment (1996) - and yet there has been no concern on your part or the part of VAWA funded agencies about this critical issue.
Today marks the anniversary Monroe County Deputy Orval Parker's attempt on my life. It should be noted that Parker used his duty gun during this crime. Despite my polygraph, the state which you represent returned Parker back to duty with a gun.
Because my life - and the life of every OIDV victim - does not matter to officials in Michigan, I have dedicated the last 24 years of my life to fighting for the forgotten victims of OIDV. Please feel free to contact me - I would be interested to hear your views on OIDV.
Renee Harrington, Officer Involved Domestic Violence Project Of Michigan
No comments:
Post a Comment