A bi-partisan group of lawmakers proposed major changes to military laws for sexual assault cases, backing a bill to prevent military commanders from handling sexual assault cases that involve their subordinates, NBC News reported.
"We believe that enough is enough. It is time to change the system that has been held over since George Washington that is simply not working today for the men and women who are serving," said New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Armed Services Committee who is leading the effort.
"When any single victim of sexual assault is forced to salute her attacker, clearly our system is broken," Gillibrand added.
A recent string of incidents, including a top Air Force officer who headed a sexual prevention office was accused of attacking a woman in a Virginia parking lot, coupled with a soldier at Fort Hood who was tasked with sexual assault prevention is under investigation for sexual abuse, have led to a renewed effort to reform the military's attitude to violence.
At a subcommittee hearing In March, Gillibrand took particular issue with the military's system, arguing that power to determine a verdict on these matter must not rest with one person.
"I am extremely disturbed based on the last round of questions and answers that each of you believes that the convening authority is what maintains discipline and order in your ranks. If that is your view, I don't know how you can say that having 19,000 sexual assaults and rapes a year is discipline and order," Gillibrand charged. "It is the exact opposite of discipline and order."
"The Invisible War," a 2012 documentary directed by Kirby Dick, revealed how the institutions themselves "perpetuate the crime as well as its profound personal and social consequences."
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