Survivors of Abduction Act
On Tuesday June 4th, State Representative John Barnes (District 12) is introducing legislation that would provide financial, educational, and medical help for kidnapping survivors Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight.
The "Survivors of Abduction Act" would provide $25,000 a year to each of the three women for 10 years (the length of time they were captives). The measure would also provide free education to any state university and free health care for life.
The act would also provide help for victims of violent crimes, funded by criminal fines.
The Survivors of Abduction Act would only apply to victims held captive for eight years or more, and would be funded by tax dollars.
Read more:
http://www.wmji.com/articles/wtam--...vors-of-abduction-act-11350261/#ixzz2VFq8Y2Js
I may be going to he** for this, but... I'm really not so sure about this act.
I absolutely, completely, 100% believe the state rep has their best interests at heart, and I do too. I want the best for them, for them to be able to be free, and recover, and regain some sense of normalcy in their lives. With that said though, I have some huge reservations about this bill being the way to do that.
From this article:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/abducted-c...ucation-health/story?id=19329449#.Ua_mnpwQNEM
"They were deprived of an education, they were deprived of health care, they were deprived of a normal life--a prom, an ice cream cone and all of that."
<snip>
"The bill proposes that abduction survivors who spent eight or more years in captivity receive at least $25,000 for each year they were held, free tuition to any state university or college and a waiver from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services that would provide them with medical assistance for the rest of their lives."
I'm sorry, but I don't see how this bill is going to give them most of this back. Health care maybe, but prom? Ice cream? It sure as heck isn't going to return their teens and 20s to them.
And in the second quote, BBM... 8 years... so, if someone's "only" held captive and forced to live in unspeakable conditions for 7.5 years, what happens?
Does there have to be a certain level of abuse and torture for it to "count"?
What if that person lives in unspeakable conditions but they weren't abducted, just have horrible family situations? You don't have to be abducted by a monster to be deprived of health care, prom, ice cream, etc. (not to mention be abused, raped, and whatever else). I hate it, but living this way is probably a sad reality for more people than we want to think about.
I do think providing them some sort of health care is important, but are they ineligible for programs that already exist? Does there need to be a whole separate bill for people who are abducted for 8+ years to get health care?
I can sadly also see this bill opening up the flood gates for people to "fake" being held captive for 8 or more years, or trying to argue that they were held "captive" by family, foster families, etc.
Again please don't get me wrong. I want to see these women recover, succeed, and do the very best they possibly can! I wish I had millions to donate to help them do this. For that matter I wish I had the millions to help others who could benefit from this kind of help.I worry that not only is this bill maybe not the right way to go about helping them, could it potentially diminish public support? If people feel like these young women are already being "taken care of" will they be less inclined to donate? I don't know, but it seems possible.
(from same article):
""The outpouring of public support has been nothing short of remarkable," the letter said."
^^^^^^^^
THIS to me is the important point. The support has been generous from the public. I know they've received money, goods, and services - not sure of details but this has been mentioned many times. I think THIS is what will help them in both the short term and the long run, not some government mandated tax funded program.
I think it'd be wonderful if a university (or universities) offered them each a scholarship to get their degrees, if that's what they want. I believe I read that the attorneys are donating some or all of their time. Maybe mental health professionals could offer them free or discounted services, as well, if they wanted to. I think it would be so great if some people or companies wanted to help sponsor their housing, food, clothing, free haircuts for life, maybe childcare for Amanda's little one, ice cream cones for life, a week's vacation at Disneyland, or whatever else companies or individuals might feel moved to give. And of course there's the Cleveland Courage Fund for anyone who wants to donate money that will help these ladies get what they need.
If all that turns out not to be enough, maybe it could be revisited? Nothing's going to bring back those years, proms, missed holidays, or any of the other thousands of things they missed out on. I think the best we can hope for is for them to get back on their feet and get the help they need to do so. I have a feeling they'll get all of that... hopefully I'm right, but like I said if not maybe it can be revisited later.
Just MOO and :twocents:
