I relive the horrific events of my sexual assault, a nightmarish recollection of the violation, the fear, the despair. Every day, I endure the aftermath of what my assaulter did to me, while they received a mere 7-year sentence. Sexual violence is a monstrous act that steals from the victim on a profound level.

I am not alone in this struggle. A report from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) states that every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. Despite the shocking pervasiveness of these incidents, our legal system often falls short in delivering justice; the average sentence for convicted rapists in the United States remains between 8-9 years (U.S Department of Justice).

We must take a strong stand against sexual violence. Increasing the sentence for sexual violence crimes is a straightforward yet crucial method of underscoring our commitment to deterrence, retribution, and justice for victims. By doing this, we could send a clear message to potential perpetrators that these atrocious acts will be punished adequately.

We urge lawmakers to revise current sentencing guidelines for sexual violence crimes, and thereby address this grave injustice. Victims of sexual violence deserve better. We deserve justice.

Please, join me in this struggle by signing our petition. Let's give voice to the silent, strength to the weak, and justice to victims of sexual violence.

https://give.rainn.org/P2P/ZQUJANcw5kORSP0-JxSN2A2/Bn3z5O-wEe-QywAiSCqaAg2