Guest bloggers are being invited to share their own personal stories about the horrors of stalking, and what they have had to endure. Over the years I have heard from so many victims of stalking – stories that are so horrifyingly similar, and yet every one of them is also uniquely different.
I truly believe when victims and survivors share their stories in as many forums as possible, not only will this help to raise awareness of the dangers of stalking, but it will also help give a voice to others that can not speak out. The crime of stalking is utterly devastating – it takes away lives. I have never spoken with a victim/survivor of stalking that has completely gotten over it. It doesn’t happen – they may have gotten away from their stalker, but you can hear the fear in their voice as they tell you their story, and you can see the fear hidden behind their eyes, but they are also warriors, they are survivors and others are empowered by their stories.
Stalking is a crime that is hard to understand. You have no idea why you have been targeted. You don’t know what to do to protect yourself, and others you care about. Not only is it hard for you to understand, but most people in your life will have a hard time understanding what is happening to you.
Law enforcement sometimes understands and uses the correct stalking protocol, they agree if there is quick intervention there is usually a good outcome, but for the most part proper training and understanding is not the norm. This leaves so many victims of stalking wondering if law enforcement even believes them. Better training and awareness to change attitudes is greatly needed, but lawmakers need to acknowledge that stalking is a crime.
With no where to turn many victims live in fear for their lives and they need solutions. Hopefully as awareness is raised there will be more solutions. People care share ideas that have worked for them. In a perfect world others will reach out to help victims of stalking, law enforcement and the justice system will hold the criminals accountable and not try to minimize their crimes.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states (click here for a page that will take you to the current stalking laws in your state http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/stalking-laws/criminal-stalking-laws-by-state.) Most states have specific laws on their books that spell out the seriousness of stalking, but the real problem with the current law is that it doesn’t get used; many police officers and lawyers are ignorant to its existence and are skeptical about the seriousness of stalking as a crime. Stalking is a crime that causes psychological harm in almost all cases, but law enforcement and the judicial system seem to want to minimize the actions of the stalker at the expense of the victim – which is not only heartbreaking, but dangerous as well. Many victims feel that the criminal has all the rights and the victim has none. And it’s not hard to understand why victims feel that way.
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. – Chief Joseph, Nez Perce January 1879
Stalking is a serious crime and deserves serious consequences. If you can please share your story. You may go to the contact page on this website www.morgansstalking.com and submit your story in order to have it posted here on this blog. Thanking you all in advance for your bravery…I know it is hard to allow yourself to remember the pain, but hopefully it will get a little easier every time you let it out. Please share in my hope for a better future, and a safer world – we can all be a part of the solution.