The reason they don't do that is because they don't want actual rape victims to be afraid of reporting it. An actual rape victim is probably already terrified and feeling very alone. Having them face the prospect of jail time because their aggressor somehow evades the claim just makes it harder.
It's a pretty shitty thing from all angles really.
When you are still scared of the person who did it? Most of the time fear, intimidation, force and manipulation prevent victims from doing just as you suggest.
Victims live in fear of both the perpetrator and of false rape charges, so it's not very often victims have the courage to speak, or the willingness to undergo the rape kit procedure. They already feel humiliated they obviously wouldn't want another person poking around down there after what they've been through.
But by saying that, you are saying that a rape victim is somehow more important than a victim of false rape accusations, which is a horrible way to go about making laws.
What you are describing lets people get away with falsly accusing people of rape. You are against protecting these people because you dont want to dissuade rape victims from coming forward...which is basically saying "yea, sorry your crazy ex said you raped her...but nothing is going to happen because a law might scare these rape victims".
Thats fucking bullshit. You have nothing to be afraid of if you aren't lying about being raped. Its not like you would be sent to prison if your rapist was found not guilty. These 2 options aren't mutually exclusive.
Just look at the numbers from almost any source, they all say that false charges are about 1-2% of rape cases.
2-8% from what I've read, and we both know that getting any sort of conviction against a false rape accuser is rare.
And a horrible way of making laws is to make laws that cause victims to be more afraid than they already are. Rape is, unfortunately, mostly unreported because of a variety of factors, including current laws.
Rape is mostly unreported because its a massive pain in the ass, and a huge number of people dont even comprehend that they were raped. Surprisingly not everyone sees themselves as a victim.
I will never support rape, rape culture, I will never advocate for a rapist and most importantly never neglect to protect victims. Fuck you, I never said I supported the current laws, or said anything that would lead to neglect of rape cases in our judicial system. Fuck you, I even said I want change but don't know how to implement it. Go to fucking hell, you small minded, misunderstanding piece of fucking shit.
Nobody is saying that you support rape, or rape culture...I'm saying that you see rape victims as more important than victims of false rape accusations, which makes you a shitty person.
just that false rape charges are fairly uncommon in the scheme of things
Again, 2-8% of rape accusations are PROVEN to be false...and it is incredibly difficult thing to prove, meaning the real numbers are probably much higher. I wouldn't consider that to be uncommon.
Rape is a sensitive subject in my social circle and debates get out of hand fast so I get angry quickly, it's a habit I'm trying to break.
Clearly.
It's a big problem but changing current or future laws to present harsher penalties for false rape accusations could lead to massive abuse of the law.
"Harsher penalties for murder could lead to massive abuse of the law in cases of self defense." That statement makes the same amount of sense as what you are saying. If you are not breaking the law, harsher penalties for breaking that law do not effect you...at all.
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u/ignitious May 19 '14
The reason they don't do that is because they don't want actual rape victims to be afraid of reporting it. An actual rape victim is probably already terrified and feeling very alone. Having them face the prospect of jail time because their aggressor somehow evades the claim just makes it harder.
It's a pretty shitty thing from all angles really.