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PRINCIPLES REGARDING VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES

The American Medical Student Association:

1.             URGES the enactment of effective national handgun control legislation which calls for the following:

a.             a ban on the sale, manufacture, importation, ownership and possession of handguns in the United States, except for the police, military and secured gun clubs; (1988)

b.             a requirement that handgun owners be responsible and accountable for possession, care, use and ultimate disposition of their guns; (1988)

c.             an imposition and enforcement of severe penalties, mandatory sentencing and civil liability for crimes involving handguns; (1988)

d.             a strict federal ban on all plastic handguns; (1988)

e.             national and all state legislation banning the concealed carry of any handgun, loaded or unloaded, by private citizens in any public place. (2001)

2.             SUPPORTS child abuse prevention programs that would require a physician, without fear of criminal or civil liability, to report suspected cases of battered-child syndrome to appropriate agencies and to file such reports so that recurrent offenses can be detected;

3.             SUPPORTS additional major research on the causes, prevention and cures of violence. (1993)

4.             URGES the education of all Americans about the known facts about violence and encourages further studies on violence as a public health emergency. (1993)

5.             In regard to hate crimes:

a.             CONDEMNS hate crimes which are defined as harassment, violence and crime motivated by prejudice and hate based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sex and physical or mental ability whether by groups or individuals; (1988)

b.             SUPPORTS nationwide legislation calling for the documentation and increased public awareness of hate crimes and bias related violence; (1988)

c.             URGES health professionals, community leaders, governmental and private agencies to recognize, help reduce and alleviate the effects of hate crimes upon victims to better preserve their human dignity and self worth; (1988)

d.             SUPPORTS violence prevention by education, research and funding of community service on a national, state and local level; (1988)

e.             URGES vigorous enforcement and prosecution efforts against individuals and groups perpetrating such crimes. (1988)

6.             In regard to sexual abuse:

a.             SUPPORTS the repeal of laws classifying as criminal conduct consensual sexual activity of any form in private, excepting those laws which protect children, the mentally incompetent and other persons from rape and other forced sexual activity;

b.             CONDEMNS all advertising that portrays women or men as natural and willing victims of sexual violence;

c.             URGES state legislatures to institute or expand existing programs for dealing with the physical and psychological trauma of a sexual assault;

d.             URGES state legislatures to adequately compensate the victim for the cost of medical, surgical and hospital expenses, counseling, emergency funds for housing and pregnancy;

e.             URGES physicians to inquire sensitively about sexual, physical, or child abuse in an open atmosphere with all patients;

f.              ENCOURAGES health professionals to address the psychological, legal and safety needs of adult and pediatric patients who are victims of sexual and/or physical abuse. (1997)

7.             SUPPORTS domestic abuse prevention programs that would require a physician, without fear of criminal or civil liability, to:

a.             Note in the medical record suspected cases of child abuse, spouse/partner abuse, infirmed or elder abuse;

b.             Report child, infirmed and elder abuse to the appropriate agencies as directed by law;

c.             Comply with mandatory reporting of demographic information in regard to cases of domestic violence. (1996)

8.             OPPOSES mandatory reporting by health professionals of spouse or partner abuse that requires identifying individuals to outside agencies. (1996)

9.             ENCOURAGES health professionals to discuss with patients the legal and support services available to victims of domestic violence and to discuss safety planning. (1996)

10.           ENCOURAGES legislation and public health measures intended to prevent violence, which may include but are not limited to:

a.             School-based conflict resolution, peer-mediation and mentoring programs; (1996)

b.             Economic incentives for inner-city businesses; (1996)

c.             Maintenance of affirmative action; (1996)

d.             Increased resources for inner-city schools and adult education centers, including bilingual education. (1996)

e.             School-based programs for violence prevention; (1996)

f.              School- and community-based parenting education and support programs; (1996)

g.             Hospital-based tertiary prevention programs, including violence prevention team intervention for trauma patients who have been victims of violence; (1996)

h.             Population-based early childhood interventions modeled after successful programs such as Headstart. (1996)

11.           SUPPORTS measures which will reduce the effects of domestic violence on adults and children by: (1996)

a.             Supporting programs aimed at reducing domestic violence, such as school-based Domestic Violence Prevention Programs; (1996)

b.             Supporting federal and state programs that aid a person desiring to leave an abusive relationship, including housing assistance, battered women’s shelters, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (2005), Women, Infants and Children and other social support services;

c.             Supporting the availability of mental health services for children who have witnessed abuse;

d.             Supporting the availability of mental health services for victims of abuse. (2006)

e.             Supporting increased education of current and future health professionals concerning domestic violence and its effects on children, including increased funding for such programs; (2006)

f.              Supporting increased education of current and future health care professionals to screen for and respond appropriately to patients who are victims of domestic violence, including increased funding for such programs; (2006)

g.             Supporting nonpunitive aide services for households experiencing violence.

12.           URGES provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate support services and legal advocacy for all victims of domestic violence, regardless of economic status, legal status, political beliefs, cultural background, geographic position, race, creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, physical handicap, mental handicap, or institutionalization for criminal, medical, or psychiatric reasons, and ENCOURAGES increased funding and programs for special needs and underserved groups. (2006)