Policy Alert From the Office of Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA)

Policy Alert – this is VERY important for Colorado.  Here is something you can do to help solve cases that have gone cold.  Please email these Senators and tell them how you feel about this very important issue.  For instance in our daughter Morgan’s case – both of her stalkers/murderers had criminal histories, if they had had their DNA collected at the time of their arrests then their DNA would be in the database.  The DNA database will help solve so many cold cases and get repeat offenders off our streets and locked away, where they can no longer hurt other innocent victims. Please use your voice on this very important issue.  Thanks!

Public Policy Action Alert
 
Support SB16-075
Collection of a DNA Sample from Offenders Convicted of
Certain Misdemeanors Against Vulnerable Persons
DNA is currently taken upon conviction of misdemeanor crimes that are sexual. This bill extends the list to include certain misdemeanor crimes, especially those committed against women and children. Collection would still only occur upon conviction of the crime, meaning that no person’s DNA sample would be taken until they were found to be guilty.
There are currently over 6,100 unmatched forensic samples in the Colorado DNA database. These crimes include murders and rapes, the majority of which are committed against women and children. Expanding the DNA database allows for law enforcement to be able to find criminals responsible for those crimes.
What we need from you
 
The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m.
If you support the intentions of this bill, there are several members of the Senate Judiciary that need to hear from you before then!
Senator Irene Aguilar (D-Denver)
303.866.4852
Senator Mike Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs)
303.866.6364
Senator Kevin Lundberg (R-Berthoud)
303.866.4853
Please consider calling or emailing these Colorado Senators and telling them why you support SB16-075 and why you’d like them to vote in favor of this important legislation! 
 
COVA

 

Another milestone – Over 6 million views from around the world!

care

Just the other day this blog hit another milestone…the amount of views went over the 6 million mark.  I would never have imagined this when I first started this blog.

I am so happy that over 6 million people in over 115 countries have read this blog.  I have always wanted to share Morgan’s story in order to allow people to understand who she really is and to show exactly what happened to her.  Bad things do happen to good people and it isn’t right, but unfortunately it happens…much too often.

I also felt that there was a huge need for people to understand what they are up against when dealing with a stalker.  All stalkings are different and yet in many respects they are the same.  You need to be educated about the laws on stalking, how to build a case, what to do to protect yourself, and much more, so this blog was also my attempt to raise awareness.  To my surprise many thousands of people have read this website and blog and written in over the years to share their stories of terror.   They have asked for help, suggestions, referrals, and much more having to do with their current ongoing stalking.  My heart goes out to them all – I really wish people understood the gravity of the situation when it comes to stalking, and how very dangerous stalking is.

I have been asked if I think there is a solution – I do not believe you can ever stop a stalker from stalking – they never stop, but I believe there are solutions.  Solutions that will save more victims, and put more criminals behind bars so they don’t keep reoffending.  This can be done with stronger laws, more education for the general public, as well as law enforcement, and accountability when it comes to upholding the stalking laws that are already on the books.  Communication is extremely important, as well as the information about organizations and programs that currently do exist that can help these victims.

Turning a blind eye to a problem in society does not make that problem go away – it only succeeds in allowing the problem to grow worse.  So do I think there is a solution to stalking? Yes, if something is possible, and I do believe it is possible, then I believe we can succeed in making that possibility a reality. We can all do our part in raising awareness and insisting on these changes being made.  Great changes for the good of all have been made over the years, not because people gave up or ignored the injustice, no, great changes have been made because people cared – so we now continue to push on in order to be a catalyst for change.

Just the other day a person wrote in to thank me for all the information that I have put out there for others to read.  She said she keeps sharing it with others.  My reply to her was, “Every little comment, every little thing people do causes a ripple effect, which in turn changes the course of history. Maybe it only changes things for the better for one person, or maybe it changes things for the better for many people, either way it helps and so you are doing something wonderful just being who you are. You are raising awareness and you are a truth seeker. Thank you for being you.”  I would like all of you that have been reading and sharing this blog to know that YOU ARE ALL MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE in this world, whether it is by raising awareness just for one person or many, or maybe by just understanding that you need to listen to and believe, a relative, friend, neighbor or co-worker when they confide in you that they are being stalked – I thank you all for reading, sharing and caring.

Again in the enlightened words of Benjamin Franklin…“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are”