Senator tackles teen dating violence
by Jim Brown
February 12, 2007
(OneNewsNow.com) - - This week is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, a program started by the American Bar Association that has been recognized by Congress the past two years. President Bush has even signed a proclamation regarding the special week of focus on the problem of teen dating violence, and now a little-known U.S. senator is attempting to bring national attention to the issue. Teen dating violence is becoming an increasing problem in America, says Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. "And it's one which is sort of sneaking up on many people," he observes. "Even parents of teens who are in high school and in dating relationships are not as aware as I think they should be about the scope of this issue."
And that scope, Crapo points out, is alarming. "I think the statistics show that one in five teens faces violence in dating relationships nationwide right now," he says. That is why he is confronting the problem, not only on a national level but also head-on in his home state.
In an effort to raise awareness, the lawmaker has worked with the Idaho Credit Union League to sponsor a number of public service announcements that "were actually prepared by teens in Idaho, at Eagle High School in Boise," he notes. "And I believe these public service announcements really make the point, very poignantly," he asserts, "that this is an issue that we must pay attention to and hopefully start turning the tide on."
