Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor
Group fights for more rights of grandparents
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We have a silent epidemic going on in Washington state that not many people are aware of. We are the only state in the country that has no way to petition a court for visitation with our beloved grandchildren, if we are unreasonably denied visitation.
Washington state has a law on the books but it was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Troxel vs. Granville case which was decided in June 2000.
The two main reasons for the court's decision are the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause and that the Washington law was "breathtakingly broad."
Grandparents Rights of Washington State (GROWS) has addressed these issues in bills pending before the Legislature, HB 1607 and SB 5477.
GROWS is made up of grandparents who, through no fault of their own, unreasonably have been denied visitation with their grandchildren.
Bridging family gaps
GROWS - www.grandparentsrightsofwashingtonstate.org -- was formed in October 2008 to work toward passage of a grandparents visitation rights bill and to act as a support group for those grandparents whose hearts have been broken.
In the case of many of our member grandparents, as sickness or life's trials overtook some of the children's parents, it became difficult for those parents to function.
The majority of our grandparents helped bridge the gap with school activities, child care, doctor visits, etc., and were a great comfort to not only to their children but to their grandchildren.
Some of our grandparents actually took care of their own children and the grandchildren while the children's parent was fighting a terminal illness.
Death, divorce, military
Some of our grandparents' children have died, divorced, separated or been sent away from home in the military. As new partners came into the parents' lives, some of our grandparents' have been denied visits to their grandchildren.
These grandchildren have not only lost a beloved parent, but also a loving grandparent. What an unbelievable tragedy for everyone concerned.
In one cases, a parent in the military returned from Iraq suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. For no good reason - except "Grandma and Grandpa have issues" - the soldier told them, "You cannot see your grandchildren again."
Pleading with legislators
Grandparents may be the rock, the stability for their grandchildren. Grandparent stability is necessary - no, vital - for those children.
We are pleading with our legislators to consider supporting HB 1607 and SB 5477 in the 2009-2010 session. We need their support of these bills for the sake not only of us grandparents but for the love, caring and well-being of our wonderful and loving grandchildren.
We are pleading for the public to contact your respective legislators and encourage them to support our Grandparents Visitation Rights Bills.
For more information, contact: Bob Rudolph at 253- 232-8927 or Bobbyr1@gmail.com.
Bob Rudolph lives in Steilacoom.
Washington state has a law on the books but it was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Troxel vs. Granville case which was decided in June 2000.
The two main reasons for the court's decision are the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause and that the Washington law was "breathtakingly broad."
Grandparents Rights of Washington State (GROWS) has addressed these issues in bills pending before the Legislature, HB 1607 and SB 5477.
GROWS is made up of grandparents who, through no fault of their own, unreasonably have been denied visitation with their grandchildren.
Bridging family gaps
GROWS - www.grandparentsrightsofwashingtonstate.org -- was formed in October 2008 to work toward passage of a grandparents visitation rights bill and to act as a support group for those grandparents whose hearts have been broken.
In the case of many of our member grandparents, as sickness or life's trials overtook some of the children's parents, it became difficult for those parents to function.
The majority of our grandparents helped bridge the gap with school activities, child care, doctor visits, etc., and were a great comfort to not only to their children but to their grandchildren.
Some of our grandparents actually took care of their own children and the grandchildren while the children's parent was fighting a terminal illness.
Death, divorce, military
Some of our grandparents' children have died, divorced, separated or been sent away from home in the military. As new partners came into the parents' lives, some of our grandparents' have been denied visits to their grandchildren.
These grandchildren have not only lost a beloved parent, but also a loving grandparent. What an unbelievable tragedy for everyone concerned.
In one cases, a parent in the military returned from Iraq suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. For no good reason - except "Grandma and Grandpa have issues" - the soldier told them, "You cannot see your grandchildren again."
Pleading with legislators
Grandparents may be the rock, the stability for their grandchildren. Grandparent stability is necessary - no, vital - for those children.
We are pleading with our legislators to consider supporting HB 1607 and SB 5477 in the 2009-2010 session. We need their support of these bills for the sake not only of us grandparents but for the love, caring and well-being of our wonderful and loving grandchildren.
We are pleading for the public to contact your respective legislators and encourage them to support our Grandparents Visitation Rights Bills.
For more information, contact: Bob Rudolph at 253- 232-8927 or Bobbyr1@gmail.com.
Bob Rudolph lives in Steilacoom.
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