According to the John Howard Society, some studies have shown that permitting victims to make statements and to give testimony is psychologically beneficial to them and aids in their recovery and in their satisfaction with the criminal justice system.

It would also amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to permit victims of intentional job discrimination to win larger monetary awards in court.

The law created a new Federal civil remedy, permitting victims to sue their attackers for damages, including punitive damages.

They hailed it as permitting victims of genocide and war crimes to pursue justice regardless of where the crimes took place.

You propose permitting "victims of gun violence to recover damages from producers and dealers without having to prove negligence."

The crash finally occurred when the court voted, 5 to 4, that the act's provision permitting victims of rape and other crimes "motivated by gender" to sue their attackers in federal court was unconstitutional.

In recent years Congress has come close to curbing "civil RICO," the provision permitting victims of fraud to bring private civil suits whether or not the Justice Department brings criminal charges.

In combating trafficking in human beings, one should also permit victims who testify to start a new life in a new country if they so wish.

In today's 5-to-1 ruling, California's justices overturned an appeals court ruling that is believed to have been the only one to permit victims of gun violence to sue the manufacturers for negligence.

"We will not permit innocent victims to continue to die at the hands of reckless and irresponsible drunk drivers," he said.