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Rep. Renee Ellmers Office released the following statement on the recent VAWA vote:

Congresswoman Ellmers voted for the House substitute bill for the Violence Against Women Act. This substitute bill would provide stronger protections to victims of violence, stop bureaucratic abuses, and make sure federal funds are going directly to the victims. Furthermore, it would have included provisions that fix the questionable parts of the Senate bill that decrease constitutional protections to Americans on Native American territory.

The Congresswoman felt very strong about keeping these protections in place and was disappointed that this substitute bill failed to win the votes. She will continue to remain vigilant as these new provisions in the law begin to take effect and ensure that all victims of violence get the protections they need.

Video:

Rep. Ellmers on the renewal of VAWA in 2012 here.

Ellmers is correct in her position and clearly sees the flaws multiplying as time goes on. As a North Carolinian, I was relieved to see her statement.

My personal take on VAWA is that this is yet another instance of the Federal government inserting itself into what should be an issue for each state to deal with as needed. It’s a bill that was forged with good intentions that has come to be used as a political weapon.

Personally, I am also uncomfortable with the gender stereotyping the bill implies as well as it’s inability to address causes for abuse like marital instability or the possibility of substance abuse. Substance abuse, Meth in particular) is a growing problem creating a violent situation in the home and not just for women, but men and children too.

Instead of addressing items like these, Congressional Democrats saw fit to keep adding on more and more categories of people to be protected. VAWA was written in 1994 and since then it has been added onto, changed around and become more expensive over time — just like everything else Congress touches. The original intent of VAWA was to help women get protection from their partners. Just like gun control laws, criminals or abusive partners are not going to follow the law. It’s a nice thought that a law could stop someone from committing a crime, but reality doesn’t work that way. If a woman’s partner or spouse wants to hurt her, I doubt VAWA will ever enter their mind; if they even know about it at all.

Yet here we are, renewing legislation that empirically has not proven to be the big factor in decreasing violence against women at all, despite claims by President Obama implying it was all VAWA’s doing. VAWA’s original intent has been lost and instead of empowering women, it is empowering bureaucrats.

Julie Borowski said pretty much what I have already, but she does it so well:

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