You make some good points. Often there is no rhyme or reason to the passage of certain laws. We think it becomes plain we don’t need more laws protecting ourselves from ourselves. However, while there are only a few murders, there are certainly instances of slave trading and other abuse that does warrant some type of monitoring. While most stories are purely romantic, there are far too many people who entertain different agendas, and that is on both sides of the issue.

We have had fair experience with romantic correspondence. Perhaps we can suggest that the reason for violence between committed spouses is their proximity. Mere correspondence does not create the disappointments many feel for whatever reason in domestic relatioships. In fact it fans the flames of the more ideal and the hopeful romantics. Conversely, it is “togetherness” that brings on the despair and violence, all the regrets, etc. Or more succinctly, no one was ever killed with a love letter.

First, the law sends a message to the rest of the world that American men are more dangerous and need regulated. Is this a fair message? Is this the message we want to send?

Second, the law requires an American man to turn over an incredible amount of personal information about himself before he can even say “hi” to a woman. Not even so much as an email, telephone call, or even a postal letter can be exchanged before the man gives up his life history.

So do foreign national women now have more rights that American women? Who is going to protect the American when his potential date decides to use his personal information against him? I can see the scam artists now having a field day with this one. The U.S. government is now controlling free speech and putting men at risk in the process. Shame on our government.

Third, the law is redundant. The law already requires the man to turn over his background during the visa petition process. It is also required by the lady. So if there are major problems the visa will be denied. This is where the background checks belong, under the control of embassy. The checks do not belong in the “hello” stage.

Finally, this law was sponsored by Senator Cantwell out of Washington State in response to two “mail order bride” murders in her State. According to CNN there have been 3 “mail order bride” murders in the passed 12 years. This is out of the estimated 125,000 marriages that resulted from this “industry”. The fact is that there are 1300 American women murdered by their spouse each year, and domestic violence is an unfortunate fact of life in any society. This law will not do anything to address domestic violence.

Unfortunately, statistics and common sense do not mean much in our society anymore. When you label penpal websites as “marriage brokers” and international women seeking love as “mail order brides” it is because you do not have decency to look beyond the stereotypes and see people as people.

I was involved in a beautiful penpal relationship with a lady for 2 years before we ever met. I met her on an international penpal dating website. If I would have been required to turn over all of this information to a stranger I would have never sent my first letter.

While the law is suppose to be about protecting women, I truly believe there is another agenda here. If the law makers really cared about immigrant women they would have required all dating sites to comply. Yahoo, Eharmony, Match.com and the rest are all exempt. Why? The law makers gave them a free pass because “international listings” are not their primary business. How Convenient! Even though they post thousands and thousands if international personals they were left untouched. So the law makers and special interest groups sold out to the big sites. Why did they do that? It is all about money and power.

So here we have another law, which further restricts an American’s right to free speech and serves no legitimate purpose. Bravo