Because this is an issue near and dear to my heart and daily life, I thought I'd share. Can you imagine if you were the victim of a home invasion, an armed robbery or a homicide and the detective looked at you and said the following, "Look, if you want us to collect and process the evidence, you're going to be charged for it. We don't know how much the final cost will be, but you'll have to pay for it if you want to go forward with the case." Imagine you are poor and your child, your mother, your sister has been raped and you have to make the bitter decision between justice and money. Even if you are not so poor, the charges for these kits can sometimes exceed $1000.00.
That's the reality for thousands of rape victims across this country every day. In my own state, prior to July 1, 2008, a police officer or the commonwealth attorney had to determine whether a rape victim's case was "worthy" of the state paying for the evidence recovery kit and if it was deemed "unworthy" or payment, the victim was left with no choice but to pay the cost herself or allow the evidence that could convict her attacker to be washed down the drain. Now, PERKs are paid for by the state.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/life-begins-at-rapeask-pa_b_140055.html
Not only is Palin's record in Alaska regarding rape victims appalling, John McCain voted against legislation introduced by Joe Biden that would have provided federal funding for rape victims in America. I shudder to think what other federally mandated protections for victims of crime will be deemed "too expensive" by these two should they be elected.
