Rape Kit. Information and phrasing.

[uppityperson]

Talking with a Palin supporter last night I found they did not know what a "rape kit" was, thought it was code word for an automatic abortion after getting raped.

Someone gets raped and decides to report it. They know by doing so they may very well have to go to court, get attacked by the rapists lawyer, have it all brought out in public view. By reporting it, by deciding to risk that, they need to have evidence gathered. This involves having a pelvic exam done by a health care person, with uniformed police standing by to make sure the evidence is gathered properly. (I have assisted in several of these over the yrs and they are another intrusion on a person who has just been violated)

So, you've been raped, you can't wash, go to the ER or police, and now are on the table getting a pelvic exam (women, vaginal and anal. men, anal). Your pubic hair is combed, speculums inserted, swabs taken. I think most places you are now allowed a support person with you, but still you have a uniformed police officer and a health care person there. Many places have Rape/sexual abuse crisis people to help also, but not always everywhere.

If you don't get this exam done, your case will be so much less likely to proceed. Evidence matters.

Sarah Palin changed the city budget while she was mayor of Wasilla to make rape victims have to pay for their forensic evidence collection. It is not a "rape kit". It is a "forensic evidence collection kit". But yes, for rape. You don't have to pay to have your house fingerprinted if you are robbed. Why have to pay if you are raped?

http://opedna.com/2008/09/08/wasilla-police-billed-sexual-assault-victims-for-rape-kits

"A rape kit is a sexual assault forensic evidence kit, used to collect DNA that can be used in criminal proceedings to assist in the conviction of those who commit sex crimes. The kit is performed as soon as possible after a sexual assault or attack has been committed. It is usually humiliating and uncomfortable for the victim–imagine enduring that and then paying $1200 just so that the criminal who assaulted you might be caught."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Why does Sarah Love Rapists?

[Rocknrule]

3. Palin is pro-rapists' rights!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. Yes she is! If you are Loved by a rapist and get pregnant, you have to honor the

rapist and bear his baby. She also gave as an excuse for firing Monegan (Troopergate) that she didn't want him to go to Wash DC to try to lobby for funds again rape crimes in Alaska..the state with the highest number of rapes in the country. So she either LOVES Rapists or HATES Rape Victims....

[Rocknrule]

11. To be fair, her attitude towards rape victims is in line with the Old Testament

"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated (anah) her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NIV

[intheflow]

14. Oh, that's nice.

Good family values. Force your daughter to marry her rapist. :puke: But of course, Levi's probably feeling that way right about now... and maybe Bristol, too.

[uppityperson]

16. If there is anyone in that mess I feel sorry for, it is them.

Sorry in that just being a horny asshole who likes to take advantage of people without repercussions suddenly had a lot dropped on him. Probably better than going to prison for rape though.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

18. Assuming that Bristol is really pregant (sorry I still have my doubts)

I do feel bad for both her and Levi. The thought of them marrying for the sake of appearances is so wrong IMHO.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. You are assuming or then Palin would be assuming, that all rape victims are virgins. Does she

believe in stoning too?

Please....

[Pastiche423]

20. To be fair?

In whose world? The old testament was written by MEN for MEN.

Ain't nothing fair in that "good" book.

Her extremist fundie attitude is fucking batshit crazy.

Why the hell did you post that crap?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

[uppityperson]

22. What is "fair" about that? Are all people who get raped female virgins?

Are you seriously saying that makes it ok?

[Orrex]

2. "You don't have to pay to have your house fingerprinted if you are robbed"

Well, if your house gets robbed, you weren't "asking for it." But if you allege to have been raped...


Good god, I can't even type that without feeling sick. But what's really sick is that this is how these sick assholes think; a victim of rape must prove rape before they can even be treated with respect and compassion.

[uppityperson]

7. Yup. To be fair, it is also common, most places, to offer a rape victim "morning after pills"

High dose of contraceptive pills, intended to prevent pregnancy by preventing fertilization, though, in a few rare cases, prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.

But this is NOT what is at issue here since you can get that from many pharmacies anyways. To repeat, you don't need to be further probed and humiliated to get Plan B.

The further probing, humiliation, is for collection of crime scene evidence.

And yes, it really really really pisses me off. Been working health care, women's issues, rape/sexual violence issues, for 30+ yr and while some attitudes have changed, albeit slowly, many remain the same. Yes, my friend's 11 yr old flat chested pre-pubescent daughter asked for it by walking home from school alone. Yes, the 69 yr old woman walking home from the store asked for it. Is the "wow she's hot" Sarah Palin asking for it by emphasizing her femininity (excuse me)? Did my ex's brother ask for it by doing a stupid crime and going to prison?

No one should have to pay for their forensic evidence gathering and people who are victims of violent crime and/or sexual assault should not have to be victimized further.

Time to phrase it that way.

[Sal Minella]

10. Just don't go to a Catholic hospital E.R. and expect to get Plan B.

The compassion of the Sisters of Mercy goes only so far.

[uppityperson]

13. In case you can't get an Rx, here is an interesting website...

I am not a prescribing health care provider and would never advise anyone to take anything on their own since there can be serious side effects. Interesting things on the internet though. Also, if you are 18 you may not need a Rx. 17 and under may.

http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/ecinfo.htm

[Berry Cool]

26. Then again, who gets their house fingerprinted when they're robbed?

I've been through burglaries. I was told by the police that they wouldn't be looking for fingerprints ("This isn't Hollywood, ma'am").

[Orrex]

27. Well, you were clearly asking for it.

:puke:

[Ian David]

5. I would bet money that either Todd or Track are serial rapists, and she does this to protect them.nt

[undeterred]

21. That's pretty extreme.

[Ian David]

23. Yep. And I stand by it. One of the Palin Boys is a Serial Rapist.

Some people say.

[uppityperson]

24. Do you mean the kind that prey on their schoolmates? The kind that don't take"no" to mean "no"?

The kind that say "she led me on"? The kind that may slip something into a party drink, or just take advantage of a drunk female? I have known those kinds. People think "serial rapist" is only someone who breaks into homes at night and rapes various people, or grabs people off the street to rape them. "Friends" rape friends, date rape is real.

You mean like that?

[Ian David]

25. I'm going to guess that they started off as a "date rapist" and evolved into a back-alley rapist.

As long as they preyed on poor women in Wasilla who couldn't afford $1,200 for a rape kit, who was going to stop them?

[uppityperson]

28. AND as long as mom was in power, running things and being vindictive to any who crossed her...

shaking my head.

[orleans]

6. good thread. (it never dawned on me that an adult would not know

what a "rape kit" is.

how stupid can people get?

[uppityperson]

8. It is not to give an abortion but to collect evidence. To answer you, stupid (the people, not you).

Hence I am calling it forensic evidence collection at a crime scene. Longer than "rape kit" but it might get the people thinking.

[uppityperson]

9. Asking for 1 more rec please, for important info. Thanks.

I hate to beg, but am.

[intheflow]

12. You shouldn't have to beg.

This is important information. And an easy way to explain it. Thank God for the CSI-type programs, so many more people now understand what forensic investigations mean, this is an accessible explanation for our TV-literate culture.

Still, I can't believe you spoke with a Palin supporter who had such a wrong opinion of what a rape kit is. What did they say when you corrected their misconception?

[uppityperson]

15. They didn't believe me, and started spouting something about FDR and WW2

I had a hard time following. It was a change the subject and attack with nonsense. Oh yes, and she has experience and we need someone fresh in washington who won't raise taxes. After talking about people making $21,000+/month having their taxes raised, she said "oh the rich will always figure out how to find loopholes and it will still fall back on us". How about closing loopholes and increasing taxes of those who make >$21,000/month? That is what Obama wants to do? "No he doesn't".

Sometimes I feel like some people get what they deserve. It is too bad that so many of us get that also due to those people's actions.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. Gwen Ifill needs to

hit this issue hard in the debate. Make Palin own up and explain her policy in front of everybody. Make her say it. If Gwen does not ask these questions and follow up hard, she is worthless as a jouralist.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. I don't watch "Law & Order Special Victims Unit", but ...

... has this show not covered this information?

Have they never mentioned what a "rape kit" is?

I say this because the CSI shows helped people understand forensic police work. In fact it has influenced some school districts to get students interested in detective work (http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/education/84094.php).

Sometimes TV is the only way people are exposed to issues.

Has anyone watched this show? Has it ever covered rape and rape kits?