It Was Violent To Me...

After hours of tossing and turning, I finally got some sleep last night.  I woke up this morning feeling as if I had been kicked in the stomach.  I know exactly what that feels like because it's happened to me before.  I am a survivor of domestic violence.  I am a survivor of rape.  I am a survivor. If you don't know my story, you can read about it here:

Transparency: This will explain a lot

Your Voice Will Save You

"When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending."

Last night, we all had the opportunity to vote on some major issues - but I cannot express enough how disappointed I am in California's uninformed voters.  When you voted for Proposition 57, did you ever look into what was meant by "nonviolent" crimes?  Here is a list of some of those crimes:

• Rape by intoxication
• Rape of on unconscious person
• Human Trafficking involving sex act with minors
• Drive-by shooting
• Assault with a deadly weapon
• Hostage Taking
• Attempting to explode a bomb at a hospital or school
• Domestic violence involving trauma
• Supplying a firearm to a gang member
• Hate crime causing physical injury
• Failing to register as a sex offender
• Arson
• Discharging a firearm on school grounds
• Lewd acts against a child 15 or 15
• False imprisonment of an elder through violence

We live in a state where we voted to not put condoms on porn stars, and to increase parole and good behavior opportunities for felons convicted of the crimes I listed above - many of which are the actual definition of violence.

Here is the argument you might use against this: "They aren't guaranteed to be released." No, they aren't.  But neither is the survivor.  While in the midst of trying to put their lives together, survivors will now have to re-live the crimes committed against them at each parole hearing.  If you've not been through these things, you have no idea just how traumatic that can be. 

This proposition truly had good intentions in some areas, but we should never vote to pass something that is only kind of good.  Push for something to come along that is truly good.  Rehabilitation of criminals is definitely needed, but it doesn't excuse what they have done.  Being truly rehabilitated, they should be apologetic to their victims - accepting responsibility and punishment for their crime rather than dragging the victim through it again.  Speaking from personal experience, domestic violence offenders are master manipulators.  They know exactly what to say and what to do to try to convince their victims and the public that they are truly sorry and won't do it again.  I don't think their tactics will change any further when it comes to them trying to earn back freedom they don't deserve. 

We let down a lot of survivors yesterday, California.

It was violent to them.

It was violent to me.

-jennilea