By Paul Lathrop
Contributing Editor
The Tennessee House of Representatives yesterday passed unanimously a bill that would grant a lifetime order of protection against those convicted of grievous acts of violence.
The measure, Senate Bill 0621, is referred to by some as Nikki’s Law in deference to Nikki Goeser, executive director at the Crime Prevention Research Center. Nikki’s husband was gunned down in her presence in a Tennessee restaurant by a criminal who was stalking her.
Nikki continues to this day to receive communications from her husband’s murderer through her attorney.
TGM reached out to Nikki to ask about the legislation.
“In layman’s terms,” she explained, “it gives victims of violent crime that have gone through the court process and the criminal has been convicted the chance to get a lifetime order of protection.”
Current orders of protection are only valid for one year, forcing those who are victims of crimes to go back year after year to request a judge to renew the order. Often they must relive the crimes long after the crime is over, just to keep a valid restraining order in effect.
“I know that this is only a piece of paper,” Goeser said, “but it is another step to let these people know that what they are doing isn’t okay.”
The newly passed law, should the Governor sign it, will go into effect July 1. Anyone who violates the lifetime protection order could get an additional 1-year prison sentence for each violation.
Goeser’s testimony can be viewed on YouTube.
Protection orders do not physically protect those that file them. Goeser is correct in stating that they are just a piece of paper. However, should the extreme case happen, and after release, a person violates the restraining order and is killed by a victim defending themselves, it adds a powerful tool to the legal defense of the defender.
Not all prosecutors like or respect the right to keep and bear arms in defense of self or others and this bill will add legal help should the need arise.
