I write as a victim of sexual assault. It's a painful experience to see others like me wrestle with their trauma, some coerced into silence while the merciless clock of statutes of limitations ticks away. Far too often, we see the community support the abuser, intimidating the victim into silence, at least to time the statute of limitations runs out. This would eliminate their power to keep the victim silent to adulthood. We need a stronghold against our abusers, a safety net woven by law that never tears. Like the federal law that eliminated the statute of limitations for murder, we seek the same level of protection for sexual assault victims.

This change isn't just for individual peace of mind, but holds accountable abusers, permanently protecting victims, and it holds the potential to combat domestic abuse which sadly occurs behind closed doors far too often.

Statistics indicate that the perpetrator is known to the victim in majority of assault cases. (According to RAINN, 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim. Every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence )

Elevating sexual assault to a level of legal recognizance equal to murder can provide an environment for victims to speak out when they are ready, to seek justice when they have mustered their strength. Each silent victim is a testament to the need for this change. A federal law eliminating the statute of limitations on sexual assault is the step towards justice that we need.

Let us bring about this change together. Sign the petition. Let your signature count towards protecting fellow citizens from enduring this torment. Let it validate every victim's plea for justice.