Date: Sat, 07  Jun  2003 18:10:19 -0400
From: "The American Civil Liberties Union" <belmonte@MIT.EDU>
To: "The American Civil Liberties Union" <belmonte@mit.edu>
Subject: oppose S.J.Res. 1, the Victims' Rights Amendment

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Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Kerry
Message text follows:

Matthew Belmonte
[address]


June 7, 2003

[recipient address was inserted here]


 [recipient name was inserted here],

I urge you to oppose S.J. Res. 1, the so-called “Victims Rights Amendment.”

Simply put, the amendment is unnecessary: no other part of the 
Constitution denies crime victims the right to  confront those accused of 
violent crimes, or to be informed of the status of the accused.  Many 
states already have laws protecting victims' rights, and this matter is 
best addressed on a state level.  Amending the Constitution would only fan 
sentiment against the rights of the accused, creating a climate in which 
the presumption of innocence may be damaged.

Sincerely,


Matthew Belmonte