Rep. Bruce Ayers introduced a bill and it is in the judiciary committee.
There doesn't seem a way to find out if there is a lot of votes. I think that would be interesting if I knew if I am working for something, no one wants.
I have met some challenges in trying to get people interested in this bill : Here are some examples on what I have been challenged with.
example "but he is mentally ill, she\he really didn't mean to blacken your eye and knock out your front tooth, give him\her a break" Many people are said to be mentally ill and we as a nation should be grateful we have medication to help their illness. BUT if the same person assaults a healthcare worker why shouldn't s/he get punished for it.
I am not writing about the person that is in crisis and psychotic. I am writing about the person that goes shopping, drives a car ,works etc. s/he knows right from wrong. That is a hugh difference.
Another example I ran into is 'BUT HE WAS DRUNK" so now healthcare workers should not blame that person that just punched, spit and kicked a nurse because he drank to much? Lucky this person wasn't behind the wheel of a car and hit someone ,I wonder how that family would feel? I also feel if the person that is drunk hits a healthcare worker ,if s/he was at home would s/he abuse his family members? Maybe we should send out DCF to all the families ,just to check on them and make sure they aren't abused! Maybe we should think about any person that has been drinking and assaulting the healthcare workers ,maybe the next step could be a section # 35.
Example: I am not going to support your bill because it is racist. Another way to get the black man or woman in trouble. "I don't think anyone should be abused but I am afraid the black person would get a heavier sentence than a white person."
This whole experience has widen my eyes. I feel that I am helping all healthcare workers and the EMT"S . BUT I also need to think about how others perceive this bill.
If people truly believe anyone that is diagnosed with a psych disorder should be able to do anything they want without any consequences.
The person that drinks to much and assaults healthcare workers and EMT's maybe s/he should also not be blamed and continue in their life style without consequences because like the psych. person he isn't thinking straight.
Now for the people that feel a black person would get a heavier sentence I am still perplexed on that. Could that really happen? What about the others that assault us? Would they get heavier sentences?
All of this is food for thought and makes me wonder why people feel it is acceptable for people to assault healthcare workers and EMT's with out any punishment.
I will leave this blog with a short story : I came into work and a nurse came over to me and told me how she was slapped in the face by one of the patients. She was upset and I could see the red mark on her neck. I asked if she was seen by the MD and made out the incident reports. It was the end of the shift for her. When she was gone to finish up and give report to the next shift another nurse grabbed my arm and said " I don't know why she is complaining about that slap ,she really wasn't hit that hard"!
Makes me wonder! The picture below was one of my co workers after a patient she had taken care of many times ,punch her in the face so hard ,she fell against some cabinets and injured her shoulder. This nurse was out of work for about 6 months and had to leave the job.
