National Organization for Women-NYS Urges Passage of Strangulation Prevention Act 2010

ALBANY, NY (03/16/2010)(readMedia)-- As President of the National Organization for Women-NYS, and on behalf of thousands of women across New York State, I am proud to stand with Senator Schneiderman to support the Strangulation Prevention Act Senate # 6987.

I want to thank the New York City NOW Chapter for their steadfast involvement in this issue. Most importantly, I want to thank the Chapter President, Jane Manning who brought this legislation to our attention. Jane is a former prosecutor and recognized the importance of such legislation to protect the safety of women and girls.

Alarming statistics show that forty-three percent of women murdered by intimate partners had experienced at least one episode of choking before being killed.

Furthermore, choking is often more dangerous than punching, shoving, and other kinds of abuse. If an attacker applies eleven pounds of pressure for just ten seconds, the victim can become unconscious. Greater pressure can cause death within minutes. Hours, or even days after an attack, the victim can collapse and die due to underlying damage from lack of oxygen. And it has been determined that at least ten percent of violent deaths in the United States are due to strangulations.

But in spite of these alarming statistics, choking and/or strangulation are not necessarily considered crimes in New York State. Often, because such attacks leave no visible signs, they are simply ignored. In an effort to remedy this situation, New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman (D) has introduced the Strangulation Prevention Act of 2010 (Senate Bill #S6987), which would define "intentional choking and suffocation into unconsciousness" as violent felonies. The bill would also provide for severe penalties.

Many victims report to NOW that they could not get justice in the courts because they exhibited no visible signs of abuse. So we will be urging our supporters across NYS to join us in advocating for this much-needed legislation. We are proud to stand with Senator Schneiderman, and to urge passage of the much-need Strangulation Prevention Act of 2010.