Convicted Serial Rapist Buried with Full Military Honors

James Allen Selby was a serial rapist convicted in 2005 on 27 counts. He hung himself on the day he was supposed to be sentenced and was given full military honors at his funeral. "Jenny's Law" which is a bill that would deny those honors for those convicted of violent sex crimes needs your support! To read more on this story in the LA Times; http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ream23jan23,0,5669391.story?coll=l

Can you help? YES!!! Call Chairman Bob Filner of the House Veteran's Affairs Committee at #(202)225-8045 and ask that he schedule a hearing on HR 5564 ("Jenny's Law") and send it to the House floor.

Sexual Assault Doesn't Discriminate

It doesn't matter what sex you are, the color of your skin, your ethnicity, religion or social class. It doesn't matter what country you live in, or what small part of this planet you may call home. Sexual assault happens to different people every day, all over this world. Societies address this problem in a lot of ways, but I think we can all agree that it never seems to get the attention it deserves. One group of people, right here in the United States, sees sexual assault and violence on a daily basis and yet it is still widely underreported. To read about Native Americans and their fight with this epidemic read the following: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1220311
Amnesty International also releases a report last year:http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/maze-of-injustice/page.do?id=1021163&n1=3&n2=39&n3=1410
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Anonymous Rape Kits

Sexual assault victims oftentimes do not report their assault for numerous reasons. In 2009, states will be required to pay for the rape kits used in emergency rooms after an attack, even if the victim has not filed a police report. The rape exam is critical for collecting evidence and prosecuting rape cases. The "Jane Doe" kits were not always covered if a police report wasn't filed. Now the evidence collected will be in a sealed envelope with only a number to identify the victim. If the victim chooses to go forward with the case, the envelope can be opened by law enforcemnt.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_re_us/jane_doe_rapes

YouTube, MySpace and Facebook

These networking and resourceful sites are free and available to anyone with internet access. Sexual assault victims are reaching out and even describing their stories on these popular sites. Victims' advocates are worried that the victims are sometimes giving out too much information. There are many pros and cons to using the internet as a outlet or helpful tool. One girl became upset when a prosecuter dropped her case and posted a video on YouTube.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/15/rape.online/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Austria's Monster

In Austria, Josef Fritzl is accused of keeping his daughter captive for twenty-four years, raping her and fathering her children. The young woman, who is now forty-two years old, has been living in a dungeon like cellar the entire time. Fritzl's wife and the entire community claim to know nothing about the heinous crimes. Austria is known for their residents staying to themselves and guarding their privacy. How this could happen for so long is still a mystery. Some of the children fathered by Fritzl had never even seen daylight before last week. We all know that sexual abuse happens all over the world. This is yet another story where the victims felt there was no way to escape the situation because of threats from the abuser. He has been called a "tyrant" by family members.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24410960/from/ET/

Accusations Getting Worse in Texas

We have all read different accounts from the raid in west Texas at the Yearning for Zion Ranch. Not only do officials think young girls were the victims of abuse, but now they are saying it's possible the victims include young boys. There are accusations of both physical and sexual abuse for those involved. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints runs the ranch and has been under much scrutiny for their system of beliefs. As much as the state of Texas is trying to protect the women and children who were removed from the compound, there are a lot of ideas and opinions on whether the state officials violated the religious rights of the sect. Entering into marriage, a polygamist one at that, under the age of eighteen does not seem right in most peoples eyes. One thing that was brought up was what if the religion called for human sacrifice? Would we allow that to happen here in the United States in name of religious freedom? Read the latest information on this ongoing case.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24388249/from/ET/