More than 500 students and passersby signed petitions and donned purple ribbons in support of the Punish Spousal Rape Bill at the Young Democrats tabling booth on the UA Mall Tuesday and yesterday.
If passed, SB1040 would make the penalty for someone convicted of raping their spouse the same as raping any other adult.
An estimated one out of every seven married women has been forced to have sex with her husband, and the rape is often times more violent and repetitive than other rape despite being reported less, according to George Mason University's Sexual Assault Services.
The bill was killed in committee March 10 by four Arizona Republican legislators, although it had already cleared the state Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, 29 in favor, one opposed.
The state legislator who cast the deciding vote to kill in committee was Rep. Laura Knaperek, R-Tempe, who represents Arizona State University and most of the surrounding areas.
"It's sad she's being part of the radical right wing of her party," said Alicia Cybulski, UAYD president.
As the bill stands now, a man convicted of raping his wife for the first time would be charged with a misdemeanor and punished to the same extent as someone who litters or steals cable.
If he is convicted of raping his wife a second time, the most severe penalty possible is 18 months in prison, instead of 10 years, if the bill passes.
But Knaperek said the bill was sped through the legislation process, and it was written hastily with unclear language. She said she hopes the bill will align spousal rape with the rape of any woman.
Knaperek said she plans on voting in favor of SB1040 once the kinks have been sorted through and said she was one of the representatives who helped to resurrect the bill back into the legislative process.
"The language in the bill doesn't reflect what we're trying to do and what we want to do," Knaperek said. "I've been doing my own research and we should have a better bill come Thursday."
Cybulski, a political science senior, said the Young Democrats got a good response from students passing by their booth who were eager to sign the petition in support of SB1040 or who wanted to be educated on the bill.
"(Students) wanted to learn more about the ramifications of the proposed bill," Cybulski said. "A penalty against a woman of this magnitude shouldn't be overlooked in any way."
Tiffany Vo, an accounting freshman, said she supports the bill because "rape is rape" and said it should be punished no matter what.
"It's an issue that needs to be dealt with," Vo said.
Cybulski said a group of about eight to 10 Young Democrats plan on traveling up to the state legislature today to show the committee members why they support SB1040.
"We hope to fill the committee room with Young Democrats from the UA and ASU so our voices can be heard over this important matter," Cybulski said.
Steven Gerner, a member of the Young Democrats, said it is urgent SB1040 gets passed.
"When we have laws like this on the books, it will deter this sort of activity," said Gerner, a political science and pre-pharmacy sophomore. "Rape is a crime, and it needs to be punished accordingly. It would be a terrible tragedy for the youth of Arizona if it doesn't get passed."
Cybulski said she found out about the bill after a feminist group at Arizona State University took action after hearing a female state representative helped kill the bill in legislation. The group decided to tell the ASU Young Democrats to spread the word about SB1040 statewide.
Cybulski said she hopes the bill passes because the victims of such crimes are left unaided and vulnerable to further abuse.
"This bill is to help these victims," Cybulski said. "We can't keep giving perpetrators the ability to do this."