I don't know about some of these people... I've been asked, over and over again, about how long it takes to get a law changed or amended and what have you, and why it takes so long to do it. There have been enough people inquire, so I figure it must be more than just a good question, so I'll answer that too, along with appeasing some of you drama whores who seem to think the only way to be an advocate is to meet face to face with the victim. While I admire people who do it on a daily basis, because I know what it entails... I used to work as a crisis counselor for a shelter, and I've dealt with them face to face.
So, to answer the question... it's all about the system, and how the legislature works. Sometimes, it's a group of people, say the PTA of your state, or the Democratic Party, or whom ever, comes up with a laundry list of things they'd like to see for their group. So they either write up a proposal, or if familiar enough with the lingo, write a proposition and take it to their representatives. Mind you, usually there is at least a few people from the same area, and they have other people in other areas doing the same thing... So the politician looks at it, thinks about it, and decides if they want to take it from there... Now, if they decide to take it further, it has to be the right time of year to do something about it. Usually, the January of the first two year cycle is the best time to talk, since all of their other fruits of the labor are in process of being discussed, and they'll need new ones to take over in the future. The ones they had ready, but not introduced will go in the second year. In the mean time, after they come to a vote in March.
In about April to June, they will come back to ask a few questions about what it is you want, and how you'd like it executed. So there is that appointment. They take it back to their staff, and between you and them, there's research to be done about what is already in place vs. what needs to be changed. Fall starts and they will get back into their legislative places. If the draft was easy, you'll be able to maybe get it in within the year, and it will be introduced the following January, along with the stuff that didn't make it the first session. (Just remember, the legislative session goes for about 2 years, from January to January.) We are starting a new session this upcoming January, to where April's Law will be introduced.
Anyway, if your piece of legislative amendments or new bill is not so easy to draft up, it goes to a group of researchers that will do an estimated study on how it's going to be written up, how much the projected costs will be, how feasible it will be indefinitely, maybe make adjustments on it, get back with the constituents that proposed it, see if it's okay, draft the final copy, and then this is when it's ready. Because in the fall, there's the other stuff like the legislative budget, new items aren't introduced until January, because it's this quarter where it all happens, as far as we're concerned. It's the January to March/April where the voting on laws go on. They take a late spring break, work from their home offices in the summer, and then go back in the fall to talk and vote on shop work, and during this fall session, they campaign also, if there is an election, come home for the holidays, to start it all over in January.
So, for those of you who missed the portion of American History of the Constitution where this is a government for the people by the people, here it is. This is the end of your lesson how your government works.
Of course now we're talking about April's Law legislation. Since we're talking about April's Law, and I don't have a ton of people, I did things a little bit different. I introduced it briefly to two state legislators in January/February of 2009. Before I did that, I had started getting lots of support for the federal version, which I pushed starting in mid to late 2007. It was a joint effort with online associates, and one of them decided to start a charity. Since charities can't push legislation, I decided to take it, and to give it some umph, started Youth Voice Initiative. Anyway, I decided to do it because, we all know how most often, sexual assault victims don't get a fair shake to begin with. Rape and other sex crimes are grossly under reported. There's the fear that victims won't be believed. Or even blamed for the assault. Depending on situation, even when the case goes to court, the legal system is very lenient on sex criminals.
Yet I have people saying that I don't care about the victims, and that if it's such a good idea, why the laws haven't been put there before. Well, not all advocates are the face to face people. The system sucks, and if the system won't take care of the people who need it most, I'm here to put in what it's lacking. And as for good ideas would be there, well, once upon a time, women and children were property, and there was nothing. If she was raped, she must have deserved it. No more. And our children are precious. If the government is going to serve us, we must be the squeaky wheel. They don't just get a light bulb and say, "Oh, that's a great idea!" We the people... that's what it's all about.
So yes, people. I used you myspace people to get the support in the preliminary, so I can introduce what I do, with lots of pre-legislative support... just to ensure that it will be introduced. Once introduced, I'm sure it will pass. If that makes me a slut, well, I'm your biggest whore. I really don't care what people think, and well, the more you hate on me, the more popular I become. The way I figure, if you're going to fight with me to try to take care of your children's safety on and off line, you're either thinking your child can't be a victim, or you don't know if the nice new neighbor up the street is a pedophile who hasn't been caught yet... could be taking pictures of YOUR child, and photoshopping them into kiddie porn. So it's not just the predators online searching FOR your child, it's also those predators in real live SELLING your child online. Yes, April's Law covers both ways. Yet, because it's taking me, ONE PERSON, a long time to do it, I'm not really an advocate...
But you know what? I like to do this. I don't mind. If I caved in to the haters, I'd have stopped a long time ago. I started talking to legislators when I was about 11 years old, and went on various campaigns. I learned about the legislative system as a high school student, and continued in college. I eventually became a student lobbyist, and got various things passes, such as Act 177, a Wisconsin bill to create equal pay for equal worth. The Mini-Skirt bill, which renders the attire of a rape victim inadmissible as evidence against the victim in the court of law. (You see the gender neutrality?) And of course the Violence Against Women Act of 1993, where the Safer Campuses for Women section was written by the group here in Wisconsin, to where those are some of my ideas that was part of that compilation in there, and one of my cohorts wrote the final copy, that sits there today.
So, if you don't mind, I'd like for those who are still new to my cause, here is the April's Law Federal Petition. I will be introducing this to legislators after the state version gets passed, hopefully this upcoming March. So, I'd like to present April's Law Wisconsin to ensure that we can get this pushed through for our children. There is an option to stay anonymous, so if you want to sign but not show your name, that is an option. Your email is just to verify it's you. That won't show regardless. I hope everyone will sign, and all pass it around to your friends.
Aside from liking to talk to the legislators, I suppose it's negative drama blogs... the haters really do a good job to promote me, so go ahead, please do so. Write a bad blog on me. Thing is, if you still have nightmares that haunt you from your own victimization, you're not removed far enough from it to be working face to face with your victims. Even if you are past the trauma, it's not easy dealing face to face, because there are a whole slew of other problems that may arise that you're not prepared to deal with... I sincerely give credit to those who do work with the victims into survivorship. These advocates and counselors are priceless. I give a million and one kudos to each and every one who does take care of the precious hearts that need safety.
Me? I guess I am the insane one that would rather deal with the system. Yeah, it might be an uphill battle, but hey, it's where I get to let out a lot of hot air, and that kind of stuff suits me just fine. Sure, it's an ugly job, it takes a long time, and it's often frustrating... but someone's got to do it, and my hands are already dirty.
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