Feds now making up domestic federal crimes
to invade your home, take your children.
AEN NEWS March 22, 1994, Linda Thompson
Copyright (c) 1994 AEN News.  All Rights Reserved.

   WASHINGTON, March 6 (AEN) -- The pattern, as always, is the same.
The federal government wants more "crimes" on the books, more federal
law enforcement control of our individual liberties, and invents yet another
excuse to inact federal criminal legislation, with some group touting this
"wonderful action" and an official propaganda survey showing public
"support."
     On March 6, the Justice Department announced it will join forces with
federal agencies, universities and research groups to create a "national
program to fight domestic abuse."
     "Family violence is no longer a hidden crime," said Laurie Robinson,
acting assistant attorney general for the the Office of Justice Programs,
which will be in charge of the effort. "This is a national tragedy that
requires aggressive countermeasures."
     An article by UPI was quick to come up with the official propaganda
"survey" in support of this federal encroachment into state sovereignty and
family privacy, saying "Surveys estimate that as many as 7 million men,
women and children are victims of domestic violence annually, Robinson
said. A recent federal study said 414,000 women are attacked annually by
husbands, former husbands or boyfriends."    "This may the the first time
an attorney general has focused so strongly on the issue," said Robinson.
"Domestic violence in this country is too often home-grown."
    Here's a quote from the support agency necessary to the government's
propaganda:  "Since the Justice Department has said this is a national
tragedy, there will be more focus on the issue," said Betty Matthews,
executive director of My Sister's Place, a women's shelter in Washington,
D.C. "I would say the department should be commended for the effort that
will have to go forth."    Matthews hopes civil protection orders will carry
more authority in the future and that there will be more counseling for
abusers. "Part of the solution would be to work with the person who
batters," she said, in an article by UPI.
   The agency of the Justice Department that will be pushing this agenda is
the National Institute of Justice, and has already said it will be looking at
using civil protection orders and child abuse litigation.
   Also, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, will
develop a model program to deal with domestic violence.
   Another "support" voice said, "We know that domestic abuse has a
tremendous impact on children," said Joy Byers, director of the National
Committee to Prevent Child Abuse in Chicago. "Anything done at the
federal level to attack the problem is good."
   Warning:  The UPI article says that "The Bureau of Justice Statistics is
collecting data from hospital emergency rooms on injuries associated with
domestic violence."  The Department of Health and Human Services'
Administration for Children and Families will finance the data collection
part of the project.
    "We need, at the state and federal level, to get criminal and social
services  working and talking together," said Robinson, adding that the role
of alcoholism in abuse would be studied.
     National healthcare, anyone?