Jehovah Witness victims of Childhood Sex Abuse - and all supporters from the United States - Action Alert for 'Illinois legislature'.

by Sol Reform 14 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform

    IL needs your help! Please email members in support of elim of civil and criminal SOLs!

    http://sol-reform.com/News/il-needs-your-help-please-email-members-in-support-of-elim-of-civil-and-criminal-sols/

    1 May 2013 | Illinois

    There has been some progress in the Illinois legislature in passing legislation (civil and criminal) to eliminate the statute of limitations for sexually abusing children.

    HB1063 is the criminal bill.

    SB1399 is the civil bill.

    It's been a long struggle and it's not over. The clock is ticking as the general assembly will adjourn in a few weeks. Any support from anywhere in the country is welcome. We need to press the legislators to pass these bills which are critical to protecting our children and grandchildren. The email addresses of the Illinois senators are shown below. Contact them urging them to protect children, and not special interest groups in Illinois.

    It's quite ironic that the lobby pressuring the strongest is the State's Attorney's Association. Check them out at http://www.ilsaap.org/directors_office.htm
    Lets help all states to protect children from sex abuse by eliminating the SOL!
    2013 - ILLINOIS SENATE DEMOCRATS
    Bertino-Tarrant, Jennifer (49th) [email protected]
    Biss, Daniel (9th) [email protected]
    Clayborne, James F., Jr (57th) [email protected](Senate Majority Leader)
    Collins, Jacqueline Y. (16th) [email protected]
    Cullerton, John J. (6th) [email protected]
    Cullerton, Thomas (23rd) [email protected]
    Cunningham, Bill (18th) [email protected]
    Delgado, William (2nd) [email protected]
    Forby, Gary (59th) [email protected]
    Frerichs, Michael W. (52nd) [email protected]
    Haine, William R. (56th) [email protected]
    Harmon, Don (39th) [email protected] - (President Pro Tempore)
    Harris, Napolean (15th) [email protected]
    Holmes, Linda (42nd) [email protected]
    Hunter, Mattie (3rd) [email protected] - (Majority Caucus Whip)
    Hutchinson, Toi (40th) [email protected]
    Jacobs, Mike (36th) [email protected]
    Jones, III, Emil (14th) [email protected]
    Koehler, David (46th) [email protected]
    Kotowski, Dan (33rd) [email protected]
    Landek, Steven M. (11th) [email protected]
    Lightford, Kimberly A. (4th) [email protected]
    Link, Terry (30th) [email protected]
    Manar, Andy (48th) No email - FAX#: 1-217-429-8018
    Martinez, Iris Y. (20th) [email protected]
    McGuire, Pat (43rd) [email protected]
    Morrison, Julie (29th) [email protected]
    Mulroe, John G. (10th) [email protected]
    Munoz, Antonio (1st) [email protected] -(Assistant Majority Leader)
    Noland, Michael (22nd) [email protected]
    Reoul, Kwame (13th) [email protected]
    Sandoval, Martin (12th) [email protected]
    Silverstein, Ira I. (8th) [email protected] - (Majority Caucus Whip)
    Stadelman, Steve (34th) [email protected]
    Steans, Heather (7th) [email protected]
    Sulivan, John (47th) [email protected] - (Assistat Majority Leader
    Trotter, Donne E. (17th) [email protected] - (Majority Caucus Chair)
    Van Pelt, Patricia (5th) [email protected]

  • GrandmaJones
    GrandmaJones

    I live in Illinois and I read both the bills. I am at a loss to see the problem. One provides that the Statue of Limitations expire twenty years after the abused reaches 18. However, any period during that time in which the abused is coerced, intimidated, manipulated, etc by either the abuser or an agent of the abuser is not part of that twenty years. The other bill also puts the limit at twenty years from the date of the discovery of the injury, not the time of the abuse and not the knowledge of the abuse. I am a victim myself. Why do I need more than twenty years to decide to do something about it if I am now 38 years old and have not determined that there is any injury or damages to me? If I am diagnosed with PSTD for example, the twenty years starts at the time of the diagnoses. Explain please why this needs to be voted down?

    GrandmaJones

  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform

    For those interested in this 'Illinois legislature' email campaign, they can usually send 14 - 15 email addresses at one time without it being considered spam.

    For example:

    'left click over first letter of email address; slide mouse down till last letter of 15th email address. [ release ] then move mouse into highlighted area.

    right click, left click 'copy'.. move mouse to 'To' window of [compose email ] right click and 'Paste'

    Folks with legal questions should always seek their own legal counsel.

    The ABC's of writing to your legislator:Be Aware: Legislators respond to the power of informed opinion. The more you know about an issue, the easier you'll catch your legislator's attention, and the more influence you'll have. The more facts you know, the better. Refer to bills by title or number. Cite experts, when needed, to back you up.

    Be Brief: Boil your argument down to a few paragraphs or less-any longer and your message loses effectiveness. Include any detailed information, such as a related article or report, with your letter, or as an attachment to your e-mail.

    Be Clear: Your message will be given the attention it deserves if you speak out on only one issue at a time.

    Be Courteous: Always praise your legislator, if he or she votes the way you wish. A note of thanks will be appreciated and remembered. If he or she is already a cosponsor of a bill, thank them, and urge them to work towards passing the legislation through Congress.Be Direct: Tell your representative what action you want him or her to take, such as:introduce legislation, cosponsor a bill, vote for (or against) a bill in committee or on the floor.

    Be Effective: To be most effective, write only to your own elected officials. (One important exception: see accompanying article about writing to members of a specific committee.)

    Be Personal: State your views in your own words, or add your personal experience to a prepared form letter or e-mail.

  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform
  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform
  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform
  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform

    last group of Il. Senators that had issues earlier

    [email protected]
    [email protected]
    [email protected]
    [email protected]

    Manar, Andy (48th) No email - FAX#: 1-217-429-8018 or phone (618) 635-2583

  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform

    New Action Alert for #Illinois #HB1399--#eliminate #civil #SOL! Contact Your Reps!

    http://sol-reform.com/Illinois/index.php#rep

    Contact Your Representative Please contact the members below and ask them for justice for child sex abuse victims by voting YES for HB 1399 in the Judiciary Committee this Wednesday. Please make contact again even if you have done so already. Role Representative Party

    Chairperson : Elaine Nekritz D
    Vice-Chairperson : Ann Williams D
    Republican Spokesperson : Dennis M. Reboletti R
    Member: John E. Bradley D
    Member: Scott Drury D
    Member: Jim Durkin R
    Member: Jay Hoffman D
    Member: Dwight Kay R
    Member: Jim Sacia R
    Member: Ron Sandack R
    Member: Elgie R. Sims, Jr. D
    Member: André M. Thapedi D
    Member: Jil Tracy R
    Member: Arthur Turner D
    Member: Emanuel Chris Welch D
    Member: Michael J. Zalewski D
    Step #1: Find your 9-Digit Zip Code Step #2: Search By 9-Digit Zip Code to find contact information for your elected representative:

    Project Vote SmartSearch by Candidate's or Official's Last Name, or Enter Your ZIP Code:(Zip)/(Last Name)
    disclose the identification of previously unknown child predators to the public so children will not be abused in the future
    give child sex abuse survivors a day in court
    remedy the wrong done to child sex abuse survivors caused by a overly short statute of limitations that placed predators and their enablers in a preferred position to the victims

  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform

    http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/opinions/19880180-474/removing-an-unjustifiable-restriction.html

    Our View: Removing an unjustifiable restriction

    Updated: May 5, 2013 2:58AM

    The damaging effects of some crimes linger for decades. Some damage lives permanently.

    Among the inexplicable quirks of the law is the presumption that ruining a life with childhood sexual abuse is a crime with an expiration date on it.

    Statutes of limitations are designed to trade justice for the orderly and convenient operation of the legal system. The evidence of the last two decades regarding child sex abuse proves how unsatisfactory that view is.

    The damage of this heinous crime normally lingers forever. But the crime is treated as if it's an embezzlement that the perpetrator managed to beat by hiding from evidence and counting on the victim's silence for protection.

    But legislation pending in the General Assembly would end that pretense. Senate Bill 1399, which has passed the Senate and is before the House, removes deadlines for victims of childhood sexual abuse to seek civil redress in court.

    The current 20-year limit is artificial and barely gets most victims to a point in life when they can overcome, or at least cope effectively, with the traumatic experience, which can be repressed in their memory.

    Legal scholars hail ending statutes of limitation as a dynamic tool to fight sexual predators, who are often family members who spend years tormenting victims and keeping the crime hidden in shadows. Historically, 90 percent of child sexual abuse victims never report the crime, and a large percentage of lawsuits perish under time restraints before they can reach court.

    Preying on children has become an epidemic that needs direct legal remedy. Eight states have passed laws similar to SB 1399 and more are in the pipeline.

    Luckily, most state legislatures are choosing to act in the best interest of the children. Marci Hamilton, chairman in public policy at Yeshiva University's law school in New York City, is the predominant authority on the topic and describes SB 1399 as a "sunshine law for children."

    We agree. The bill makes sense and provides justice.

  • Sol Reform
    Sol Reform

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