RADAR Alert: Massive Civil Rights Violations Under VAWA

Today RADAR is releasing a report that documents how the Violence
Against Women Act, and the state laws it has spawned, routinely violate people's civil liberties.

Click "Read more..." for more.

"Without Restraint: The Use and Abuse of Domestic Restraining Orders" reveals the following:

• Each year, one-half million domestic restraining orders are
  issued in the United States that do not involve even an allegation
  of violence.
• Such orders are often sought during a divorce proceeding, often
  making it impossible for the father to gain shared custody.
• The issuance of both temporary and final restraining orders is
  done without regard for due process protections.

The report can be viewed at this address: http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Restraining-Orders.pdf

So now 25 organizations around the country are calling on the U.S.
Congress to investigate. (See http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Resolution.pdf)
We are asking the Judiciary Committees in both the Senate and the House
of Representatives to hold hearings to make the judges who issue these
orders more accountable.

It's time to stand up for our rights. This week, we're
making phone calls to key members of Congress:

1. Telephone the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, James
   Sensenbrenner at 202-225-3951.

   Politely tell the person who answers:

   • Your name, city, and state
   • The reason for your call: "I'm calling about the recent
     RADAR report that documents that one-half million domestic
     restraining orders are issued each year without even an allegation of
     violence. These orders represent a massive violation of people's
     civil rights."
   • Your request: "I am requesting that the Constitution
     Subcommittee promptly hold hearings to investigate this problem."
2. Telephone the chairman of the House Constitution Subcommittee,
   Steve Chabot (pronounced "SHA-bot") and tell him the same things listed
   in the three bullets above.

NOW ON TO THE SENATE!

3. Telephone the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen
   Specter, and tell him exactly the same three points listed above:
   202-224-4254.
4. Telephone the chairman of the Senate Constitution Subcommittee,
   Sam Brownback, and give him the same message: 202-224-6521.

Your one-minute telephone call will help protect a family -
and maybe someone you know -- from future restraining order abuse.

Date of RADAR Release: March 26, 2006

R.A.D.A.R. – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic
Abuse Reporting – is a network of concerned
men and women working to assure that the problem of
domestic violence is treated in a balanced and
effective manner. http://www.mediaradar.org.

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