Caring for those in need can be a dangerous proposition.  Health care workers overall are subject to more workplace violence and missed more work due to workplace assaults than any other profession.

A majority of states have criminal statutes specifically addressing assaults on emergency medical providers, and 32 (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) make it a felony to assault a health care worker or emergency medical personnel. 

VERMONT needs to join this list to support and protect those who care and protect those in need during their most vulnerable times.

We need laws on the books to protect us, as this is a daily occurrence around the country and getting worse due to the lack of enforcement and repercussion. Try punching a police officer, or a senator, or even a lawyer and see what happens. But us, the people who have dedicated our lives to treating you in a time of need? Largely crickets. Please tell your lawmakers it's time for a change, or we may not be there when you need us.