Every teenage girl gets her heart broken by some teenage boy, whether he knows it or not. She may walk closely behind him in the hall, watch him in the lunchroom, or know his class schedule so she can wait for him. Eventually, when she sees him with a new girlfriend, or he catches on, she'll stop. She'll understand that her advances are not welcomed, and she will go about her business. Although heartbroken, she understands the situation and is rational in her actions.
             So what happens when a grown man follows a woman to work, watches her in her home, and knows her every move? It is stalking, and it is a federal crime. It is not a nuisance, it is never the victim's fault, and it isn't just something that will 'go away.' The statistics are astounding: about one in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetimes: that adds up to over 1.4 million people a year. (ncvc) Everyone needs to be more aware of the legal definition of stalking, know the tell-tale signs of stalking and have resources available in case they think they are being stalked. Stalking is a social, life-invading and sometimes economically destructive problem and armed with information, everyday people can help stop stalking.
             It is important to understand just what stalking is. Is someone asking you out stalking you? No. Is someone that persistently asks you out stalking you? Possibly. Nevada state law defines stalking as "A person who, without lawful authority, willfully or maliciously engages in a course of conduct that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated or harassed, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated or harassed, commits the crime of stalking." (ncvc) Each state has its own legal definition, but by and far this terminology encompasses all of them.
             In 1994, the Violence Against Women act came into effect, and stated that it is...