Imagine that your child was contacted by an obscene telephone caller. Imagine your friend was stalked for months. Imagine you or a loved one was raped. Now, imagine taking the case to court and being told that you are an “accuser.”
This is what Georgia State Rep. Bobby Franklin is proposing in legislation which would change the word “victim” to “accuser” in rape, stalking, and domestic violence cases in Georgia.
I wonder if anyone who was involved in writing this law has any family members who have suffered through such crimes. It’s doubtful that anyone who has experienced these heinous crimes firsthand or through association would call the victims “accusers.” Most people who accuse others of these crimes really have gone through them. Most of them would not be “accusers” if they hadn’t first been victims. So, calling these people accusers is not going to help settle things in court. If anything, it’s confrontational, implying that a victim can be the “bad guy” for daring to seek justice.
And isn’t just a little too coincidental that most the victims of rape, stalking and domestic violence are women? Of all the crimes that go on every day, why are these crimes allowed to have guidelines that challenge the victim’s story? Why are women primarily getting the short end of the stick in this deal?
Why waste time writing a law that will only cause hurt and confusion to those who have been victims of such terrible crimes? Shouldn’t lawmakers be creating laws that protect victims and ensure criminals get what they deserve? No, apparently, they have to try to change something that’s already working. Great idea, Franklin.
Some say the word the word “accuser” makes things more impartial in a trial. But when someone really has been raped or abused, they are not accusing the criminal. They are telling others of their victimization so that the criminal can get what he/she deserves and justice will be served. When someone who’s been robbed goes to court, they aren’t called accusers. Why should it be different for other crimes? What if the “accuser” is a child? Can someone really just blanket all these victims with that term and not take into account that they may be too young to defend themselves in court?
I hope this legislation doesn’t pass. When people are subject to these crimes, they are victims. If they were lying about being a victim, then they aren’t. End of story. Justice should be black and white, not black, white and vague all over.
