Thursday, September 11, 2008

If this is true, and let's hope it's not: charging for rape kits?

As a Canadian, I'm finding the US elections more interesting than usual because of the presence of the Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. The more I read about her, the more afraid I am for women in the US if the Republicans get back into the White House.

But, I'm not talking about her hunting, her drilling, her character - I'm talking about her ideas on women on their bodies. I'm talking about how sex education should be abstinence, when there never has been abstinence - teens have been having sex for generations, before sex ed was allowed in the schools. I'm talking about the anti-abortion stance even in cases of incest or rape. The mental status of the girl or woman meaning nothing in the equation. And, I'm talking about the latest revelation that, for a time, if you were raped in Alaska, you had to PAY FOR YOUR OWN rape kit, that helped collect evidence of the crime. That order was changed by the then governor, but apparently when the message went out to the police departments, the city of which Sarah Palin was mayor, balked. They didn't want to take on the expense.

If you were robbed, there wouldn't be a charge to have your home dusted for fingerprints. If you were in a fight and stabbed, there'd be no charge for the investigation into the stabbing. But, if you were raped, you had to pay for collection of evidence.

Think I'm joking? Check out these articles:

Palin's town used to bill victims for rape kits
Wasilla’s Police Chief Charged Rape Victims for Forensic Testing Under Mayor Sarah Palin
Palin's Wasilla To Rape Victims: Bring Your Checkbook

Today at Help My Hurt:

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Today at Womb Within:

Listeriosis hits high-risk groups, causes miscarriages and premature births
Pregnancy Post Partum Prep
Herbal remedies while pregnant may cause harm

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