Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site peora.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!petsd!peora!san From: san@peora.UUCP (Sanjay Tikku) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: rape and abused females Message-ID: <952@peora.UUCP> Date: Fri, 17-May-85 13:29:16 EDT Article-I.D.: peora.952 Posted: Fri May 17 13:29:16 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 19-May-85 00:20:39 EDT References: <187@cuuxa.UUCP> <485@ihlpg.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Perkin-Elmer SDC, Orlando, Fl. Lines: 66 > > I have an idea that might help on the subject of rape > > and abuse of women. Let's get a few more women judges > > up there on the bench. ... > > This is more of a social problem than anything and there is not much the law can do except to hand out punishments which act as deterrents for anyone contemplating the crime. In one of the countries the women groups put a lot of pressure on the legislators who decreed very stiff punishments for rape. There was more pressure and then the penalties became even stiffer and ultimately it was pointed out by some lawyers that the minimum penalty for rape was higher than minimum penalty for murder which did encourage some of the rapists to murder their victims after the rape. Also, it is kind of difficult to prosecute someone with a dead victim ( murder case) vs. with an alive victim ( rape case). The bottom line is that beyond acting as a deterrent the law cannot do much. It is the sickness in the society that has to be rooted out for an effective solution to this problem. > > A lot of the time there were other people > > around who could have helped her but they didn't want > > to get involved. I wish the police would take down > > their names and next time they need help the cops > > could say "I didn't wanna get involved". > > How about holding these people partially responsible for the crime. Perhaps > we could fine them for not reporting the crime and/or stopping it. I don't > think that we could require them to actually endanger themselves, but I do > think we should try to get people more willing to speak up against crimes. Well, most of the time people don't want to get involved because they will be hurt by the criminals too if they decide to testify etc. Intimidation tactics are not exactly uncommon. The person who decides to "be a witness" is badgered from the criminals as well as the law. Ask anyone who has decided to testify, as to how much trouble they have gotten into from the side of the law also. There is a need to improve the system to ensure security and non-harrassment of the "witnesses" and then more and more people will speak up. I don't think that majority of people are apathetic. Recently, there was a broad daylight shooting somewhere and there were about 20-25 people there but believe it or not, no one saw it !!!!. As the cops put it - they were temporarily blind. We definitely don't need such *blindness attacks*. > > Someone suggested letting women carry firearms. Sounds > > good to me. Any of you ladies need firearms training? > > I'll teach you to shoot if you live in the Chicago area. > > Note, no smiley faces. > Would you like to go thru what Mr. Bernard Goetz is going thru ? Think about it before considering the above suggestion seriously. sanjay ----- -- Full-Name: Sanjay Tikku UUCP: ..!{decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!vax135!petsd!peora!san CSnet: san%peora.UUCP@CSNET-RELAY USnail: MS 795; Perkin-Elmer SDC; 2486 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32809-7642 Tel: (305)850-1042-Off. ; (305)851-3700-Res.