Defining the Problem.
Domestic violence has been ongoing in the US leading to the suffering of the victims and their children. The law had reduced domestic violence by more than 50% between the 1990s to 2010 ( Eulich, 2013). The violence against women act of 2000 was to help improve law enforcement and prosecution of offenders. It encompassed aspects of violence during dating, sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence ( Steels, Orton and Ratsela, 2013).
May
Biblical guidelines: The scriptures are against any type of violence directed toward any living organism and that includes domestic violence.The biblical view of man as sinful includes violence among other behaviors to be avoided as they are sins( Colossians 3:8-10, King James version).The law on domestic violence should not be delayed as it has its basis on loving accountability in Christ where the husband as the head of the family lovingly gives direction in family affairs without resulting to violence during difficult times (Wright and Stegman, 2013).In the past several lows have been passed but they require changes to be more comprehensive and be able to address all forms of domestic violence. In the US about half of the American women killed are a result of domestic violence (Khazan, 2017). The government has a divine obligation to protect its citizens from all forms of violence without discrimination on gender, religion, political affiliation or any other socio-economic classification.
Constitutional guidelines: The US constitution preamble to ‘ Establish Justice’ is to make sure that all human beings are treated fairly no matter their status in the society. The ‘general welfare’ part of the preamble encompasses the welfare of every American citizen and therefore the government may pass a law on domestic violence as it has a good basis for enactment in the constitution (Graham,2015). The safety of every American citizen against violence is enshrined in the bill of rights of the United States and the US government may make and amend laws on domestic violence.
Can
Political feasibility: The American citizens are abhorred by violence that is directed towards women and children or any other person especially by the same people who claim to love the victims they abuse. The anti-violence bill of 2013 was voted for by 87 Republicans and 199 Democrats showing domestic violence is unacceptable and has political favor both political parties (Carnia, 2013). The review of the bill ensures no one lives in fear at any time as President Obama explained. The Obama administration agreed on the importance of the bill on domestic violence, unlike the opposition the democrat ’s faced on the health bill.
Financial feasibility: The bill was estimated and authorized at 3.28 billion dollars, where 20 million dollars was to be used in the enforcement of this law (Carnia, 2013).The bill has been allocated an estimated 650 million dollars for each fiscal year to ensure that it is well enforced by providing shelter to the victims and law enforcement activities and procedures.
Practical feasibility: Due to the severity and seriousness of violence against women, stalking and sexual assault, the previous bills had not addressed all aspects of addressing the problem. With the 2013 VAWA, the empowerment of law enforcement agencies and providing the victims with shelter has proven to be practical in solving the issue. The perpetrators would not be able to access the victims if they are bailed out during the due process and the victims can be safe through tenant transfers as they press charges. Including sexual assault for dating partners and stalkers has made the bill more practical than previous bills in protecting women against violence (Waltz and McLaughlin,2013). This act also mandates landlords to terminate the tenancy of violence perpetrators especially if other tenants are at risk.
Should
Tribal courts should be given more power to prosecute non-native perpetrators of violence to protect Native American women and also protect immigrant women who are residents of the US (Kelly,2015).The government should not allow politics to undermine VAWA as the issue is not to be politicized at all as human life is at stake(Ball, 2013).
References:
Ball, M.,(2013).Why Would Anyone Oppose the Violence Against Women Act?The Atlantic, retrieved from, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/why-would-anyone-oppose-the-violence-against-women-act/273103/
Carnia, C,.(2013).Congress sends Violence Against Women Act to Obama, USA Today, retrieved from, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/28/violence-against-women-congress-obama/1953527/
Eulich, W, (2013). InUS, big strides in reducing domestic violence, The Christian science monitor, retrieved from, https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2013/0213/In-US-big-strides-in-reducing-domestic-violence.
Graham, R., (2015), In this ‘war on women’, the death count mounts, the Boston Globe, retrieved from, https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/08/17/domestic-violence-this-war-women-death-count-mounts/qxNpzRwP7FnHBw8427i1JO/story.html
Kelly, R.L., (2015).The Human Rights Impacts of VAWA 2013: A True Victory for American native Women?Student Pulse Journal Quest, retrieved from, http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1092/the-human-rights-impacts-of-vawa-2013-a-true-victory-for-native-american-women.
Khazan, O.,(2017)Nearly Half of All Murdered Women are Killed by Romantic Partners, The Atlantic, retrieved from, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/07/homicides-women/534306/
Steels, K., Orton, J and Ratsela, K.(2013), Violence against women: a ‘ global health problem of epidemic proportions’, World Health Organisation report, retrieved from, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/violence_against_women_20130620/en/
Waltz, E.K., and McLaughlin, M.,(2013) A Collaborative Approach to Housing Under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, clearinghouse community, retrieved from, http://povertylaw.org/clearinghouse/articles/Reauthorization.
Wright, K., and Stegman, E.,(2013). Low-Income Victims of Domestic violence Facing a Political Super Storm, Center for American progress, retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/news/2013/02/27/54953/low-income-victims-of-domestic-violence-facing-a-political-super-storm/
