Bill Extending Protections for Stalkers’ Victims Gains

Orange County Rep. Ed Royce’s bill aimed at expanding protections for stalker victims who are followed across state lines breezed over a legislative hurdle Wednesday.

The bill would for the first time make a state’s restraining order valid throughout the country, and a violation would be punishable by five to 20 years in prison. This would broaden a 1994 law that now protects only spouses and intimate partners targeted by stalkers.

The House Judiciary Committee, which approved the legislation without opposition, also added protections for victims on federal property such as post offices, military bases and national parks. Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.) offered the amendment for Royce (R-Fullerton), who does not serve on the panel.

“Postal officials approached us and said they had past evidence of stalking in the post office, and had they been able to intervene they feel they could have prevented a subsequent death,” Royce said.

The law would have applied in a May 1993 incident in Dana Point where an ex-mail carrier, who police said was infatuated with a female postal worker, killed two and wounded five in a three-day rampage that included shootings at the post office. The victim, who was not hurt, said she had obtained a restraining order against the stalker.

“My bill criminalizes the behavior in general. For the first time, stalking is defined in federal law,” Royce said.

Under the bill, interstate stalking would be defined as traveling across state lines intending to harass or cause harm to another, placing a person or members of the immediate family in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury.

After the meeting Wednesday, Royce said he believes his bill would close loopholes in federal law that does not protect victims who work in states different from where they live, take a vacation or move to escape their stalkers.

“They are often counseled to get away from their stalkers, but if they follow that advice, often they are no longer protected,” Royce said.

Royce began his efforts to put anti-stalker laws on the books six years ago as a state legislator, after four Orange County women were killed by stalkers within six weeks of each other. They all had sought protection from police but were told the threats were not against the law.

Since Royce’s bill passed in California, all 50 states have passed anti-stalking laws, but restraining orders obtained in one state are not enforced in others.

If his bill passes, stalking victims would be protected legally when they cross state lines, but Royce concedes that getting the word out to law enforcement officials, victims and stalkers could be a challenge. Eventually, he said, the sentencing provisions could make the law a deterrent.

Prison penalties would include five years for stalking, 10 years if injury occurs or a weapon is used, 20 years if disfigurement or life-threatening injury occurs, and life in prison if death results.

Supporters of free speech have expressed concern about the bill, but Royce said he spoke to each member of the congressional panel and used testimony of victims to convince them of the seriousness of the threats.

He said he expects the full House to consider the legislation within a month, and that a similar measure will be introduced in the Senate by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas).