HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 99-4689, by Representatives Ballasiotes, Reardon, Linville, McDonald, Fortunato, Radcliff, Buck, Talcott, Sullivan, Miloscia, Anderson, Constantine, Poulsen, Edwards, Veloria, Cox, K. Schmidt, Mulliken, Kenney, Pflug, D. Schmidt, Campbell, Dunn, Thomas, Mitchell, Santos, Pennington, Hankins, Carlson, Lambert, Mielke, Bush, Crouse, Delvin, Esser, Murray, Schoesler, Wensman, Skinner, Hurst, Dickerson, Keiser, Fisher, Conway, D. Sommers and Benson

      WHEREAS, April 25th through May 1st is National Crime Victims' Rights Week; and

      WHEREAS, This event began twenty-three years ago in Philadelphia to remember crime victims; and

      WHEREAS, It has since spread throughout the country in an effort to increase the public's awareness and support of crime victims' rights and services; and

      WHEREAS, This need is apparent as a violent crime is committed in America every nineteen seconds, and seventy percent of homicides involve firearms; and

      WHEREAS, In 1997, more than 18,000 people were murdered in the United States, including two hundred forty-four murders in Washington that were committed with weapons; and

      WHEREAS, The highest percentage of murder victims in Washington are young adults, ages eighteen through twenty-four; and

      WHEREAS, It is estimated that one woman is battered every nine seconds in the United States and 1.3 adult women are raped every minute; and

      WHEREAS, While the number of reported rapes in Washington has decreased since 1992, nearly 3,000 rapes occurred in 1997; and

      WHEREAS, Law-abiding citizens are no less deserving of justice, rights, resources, restoration, and rehabilitation than the violent offenders who harm them; and

      WHEREAS, The week's theme, "Victims' Voices -- Silent No More", reflects the power generated when crime victims and their advocates speak out against crime victimization; and

      WHEREAS, Crime does not concentrate in one specific area; it encompasses rape, murder, robbery, burglary, theft, violence, stalking, domestic violence, child abuse, and vehicular assault; and

      WHEREAS, As a nation devoted to liberty and justice for all, America must increase its efforts to protect and expand crime victims' rights and services;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives recognize the pain and suffering victims must endure as a result of crime and express its unequivocal support for crime victims nation-wide, their families, and their friends.

          I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4689 adopted by the House of Representatives

                             April 23, 1999.

________________________________             _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk            Dean R. Foster Co-Chief Clerk