Austin, Tex. (Special) -- Concerned that abusers are able to stalk
their victims by accessing documents through the internet, Texas State
Sen. Florence Shapiro has introduced a bill to create a "protected address
program" in the Lone Star State.
Under terms of the bill, abuse victims could list a substitute address
on such official documents as a driver's license or school records. The
state of Texas then would forward to the victims any mail sent to that
address.
In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Shapiro said she
is concerned that as a result of the internet "people's private lives are
now available in a widespread fashion. For those of us who are not victims
of domestic violence, it only means that they may send us advertisements
we may not want. But for a victim of domestic violence, the potential violence
is magnified 100-fold for them and their children." -- Donald
H. Harrison |