Hailey Gurkin

340 Cranberry Dr.

Stuarts Draft, VA 24477
November 4, 2015
The Honorable Bob Goodlatte
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Goodlatte,

I am a senior at Riverheads High School. I am writing to ask for a new bill to be
introduced enforcing protective restraining orders for domestic abuse victims. In September
of this past year, a friend of mine, Jasmyne Hayslett, was senselessly shot and killed by her
boyfriend. A week before this tragic incident, she had gotten a protective order against him
after he had strangled and threatened to kill her after she said she didnt want to be with
him. He was arrested and bailed out within a few minutes, and then an emergency order of
protection was given to him to ensure that he would stay away from her. This, however, did
absolutely nothing. This occurred on September 22 and the restraining order stated that he
was to stay away from Jasmyne until October 2 and that he could not possess a firearm. He
took her life and his as well on September 30, leaving behind their two-year-old son.
In 2005, a bill was introduced to the House. The H.Res.382 Expressing the sense of
the House of Representatives with respect to the enforcement of restraining orders, made it
to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, but it died there. It
suggested that Congress should act and encourage states to act to ensure that restraining
orders are uniformly enforced and to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault,
stalking, and dating violence from perpetrators. I am asking for you to introduce a bill
similar to this one.
I have personally known several people that have had protective orders taken out
because they feared for their lives and in every instance, there was absolutely no
enforcement put in place. A restraining order or protective order is simply a piece of paper.
The person knows they arent supposed to violate it but they more than likely will. The
person being abused can and should call the police, but if they fear the person who is not
allowed to contact them, they are going to be afraid to tell on them. Just like a child being
bullied in school who is afraid to tell the teacher, the person being abused will fear that the
abuser will find out, and things will only get worse. In the worst case scenario, it may even
be too late to call the police.
If there was a law that required that states enforced restraining orders, many lives
could be saved. Not only that, but these documents need to be taken more seriously. They
can affect the safety of many people, not simply one or a few. I believe that this is a
necessary law and could help people all over the country.
I believe that this bill represents your beliefs and feelings as well after reading about
your position on subjects. Thank you for your consideration of my viewpoint on this matter. I
believe it is an imperative law to be put in place and that it will make a significant impact on
the country if passed.

Sincerely,
Hailey Gurkin

Hailey Gurkin
340 Cranberry Dr.
Stuarts Draft, VA 24477