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Bipartisan support on campus in North Carolina
Unlike many partisan issues that politicians spar over in legislative environments, victims’ rights is an issue that draws support regardless of political affiliation. Marsy’s Law, known as HB 551, has gained support across the state from communities, elected officials, and organizations from every background. The legislation seeks to strengthen victims’ rights laws statewide by giving enforceable protections to victims of crimes – rights like being heard in court proceedings and notified when the accused or convicted change
custody.
The majority of North Carolina voters, eight in ten, across the political divide support amending the state’s constitution to give victims of crime stronger rights according to a survey of state voters. During the last legislative session, state House Republicans and Democrats joined forces and voted in overwhelming favor of the amendment that would send it to voters to decide. The state Senate could consider the legislation as early as this spring.
Following the trend, both of the state’s major political party college chapters – College Democrats and Republicans – have recently endorsed Marsy’s Law, giving their support to the important cause.
College Democrats:
“In such a rapidly developing time and world, there are most certainly challenges that we face. In a world where everyday brings new fears and new hurdles, we should expect our leaders to take on that challenge straight ahead. The College Democrats of North Carolina have the gall to realize that in a dangerous world we need laws to restore hope and we need to right our wrongs. For those reasons, we are fully endorsing the passage of Marsy’s Law in North Carolina and call on the NC Legislative leaders to protect and extend victims’ rights across our 100 counties. For far too long many people made victim by violent crime have sat alone and afraid, but with the passage of Marsy’s Law we stand with them and invoke a fearlessness in the eyes of this challenge.”
– John Carry Easterling III, President of College Democrats of North Carolina
College Republicans:
“The North Carolina Federation of College Republicans is proud to endorse Marsy’s Law in North Carolina. Marsy’s Law would establish common sense victims’ rights which are desperately needed.”
– Garrett White, Chairman of North Carolina Federation of College Republicans
Marsy’s Law NC reaches new milestone for endorsements
The Marsy’s Law for North Carolina campaign continues to span the state speaking to elected officials and citizens about the need to strengthen victims’ rights – and the legislation currently being considered in the General Assembly that would allow citizens to vote on stronger victims’ rights.
This week brings another milestone for the team – 400 individual endorsements throughout North Carolina as more people learn about the gap facing victims and their families in state law, and how the Marsy’s Law legislation will give the state’s victims of crime equal representation in the eyes of the law that the accused and convicted already have; rights like being informed and heard during the court process as well as being notified during change in custody status.
In addition to the 400 total endorsements, Marsy’s Law for North Carolina has 18 towns and 12 counties that have passed resolutions in support of the legislation and more than 60 sheriffs who have individually endorsed the law. All of this support comes before the issue has finished its legislative process and been sent to citizens to consider a statewide vote.
“We are proud to stand up for victims’ rights here in Iredell County,” said Statesville City Councilman, William Morgan. Statesville is one of the six communities that have voted in favor of strengthening victims’ rights in North Carolina in the past month.
Recently, voters in other states – including 2017 in Ohio – have supported legislation that formally elevates rights for victims of crimes to equal status as their offenders in state constitutions and guaranteeing victims’ rights by law.
So far in 2018, it’s on the ballot in three additional states: Kentucky, Nevada, and Oklahoma. If it passes North Carolina’s General Assembly this spring session, voters could decide to strengthen victims’ rights during the 2018 elections.