This letter is in regard to the Sept. 23 article on the alleged sexual assaults that took place at the winery.
Boone County Sheriff’s Department Major Tom Reddin’s final words toward the end of the article are an ignorant and misguided attempt at giving closure and backwards advice to avoid the extremely horrible act of sexual assault. To quote the article, “Reddin said people (read women) who go out for a night of drinking should take necessary precautions, such as designating a group of friends to stay close...” Furthermore, Major Reddin is quoted saying, “We want people (again, women) to understand when you go out, stay with your group of friends. Don’t overindulge and if you do, make sure a safety plan is in place.” But I just have to ask, why isn't his advice to not sexually assault people? Is that too much to ask of young men? This is a classic case of blaming the victim. It disturbs me that an individual whose job it is to prevent, or at least deter, such atrocious crimes does not address the actual issue at hand. While taking preventative precautions might be in the best interest for individual peace of mind, we are once again avoiding the problem of violence against our fellow human beings. Regardless of the precautions taken, until we have a mutual respect for our fellow inhabitants and understand the autonomy of individuals, we’ll continue to miss the mark. In the meantime, I would hope that our law enforcement and legal agencies will someday obtain some common sense and a true, grounded perspective of their duties.