Recent statistics on domestic violence have shown that spouses are battered (beaten, strangled, shot or stabbed) every 15 seconds in the United States.  More than 90 percent of the battering is done by men to women.  Domestic violence is no longer considered to be a womens issue.  Battering harms children, elders and pets.

Fight Back and Win
Women everywhere desparately need to be educated about their human rights and constitutional rights. How much do you know about your own rights as a citizen, voter or consumer? If you no longer want other people to run your life, you will need to start running it yourself by learning what is acceptable in our culture and nation. Do you know people who seem to be totally disfunctional in the sense that they cannot decide what is right or wrong? Do you think the could be taught to expect more from society than battering and neglect in their own homes? You can show them by example and by drawing pictures and diagrams. You can make a difference in your lifetime.

Community Networking and Civil Knowledge
We need to develope attitudes that examine fairness, liability, responsibility as well as loyalty, compassion and community networking.  These are always good topics for discussions at support group meetings.

Are you and active or passive resident?
If you don't know about these issues and how they impact your daily life, you can get books on basic legal principles, consumer rights and citizen survival techniques. 

Please read our Bill of Rights
These ideas are useful whether you think of yourself as a person within a family or as a political person with civil rights.

 The Bill of Rights  

Constitutional Amendments 1-10: The Bill of Rights

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.