The General Assembly pass
ed
a bill that would toughen South Carolina’s domestic-violence laws, including a lifetime ban on possessing guns for some convicted batterers.
The House voted 81-23 Thursday to accept a compromise. Many of the votes against the bill came from Democrats who felt the proposal gave too much power to prosecutors and didn’t do enough to provide counseling.
The proposal changes the current system where punishment is based on the number of offenses. The bill punishes abusers based on the severity of the attack, the number of prior offenses and other factors, like whether the victim was strangled, is pregnant or children saw the abuse.
The compromise also provides a lifetime gun ban for the worst abusers and has an automatic three- or 10-year ban in other cases.
The proposal changes the current system where punishment is based on the number of offenses. The bill punishes abusers based on the severity of the attack, the number of prior offenses and other factors, like whether the victim was strangled, is pregnant or children saw the abuse.
The compromise also provides a lifetime gun ban for the worst abusers and has an automatic three- or 10-year ban in other cases.
Attorney General Alan Wilson released the following statement on the General Assembly’s final passage of S. 3, the Domestic Violence Reform Package:
“On January 13, minutes before the current legislative session began, I stood in the State House lobby with members of the General Assembly, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, victims’ advocates, survivors and other stakeholders. We called on the General Assembly to pass meaningful domestic violence reform this year. Today, that call was answered with the adoption of S. 3.
“I am proud that the General Assembly took a hard stand against this heinous crime this year. The direct, personal involvement of Speaker Jay Lucas, House Judiciary Chairman Greg Delleney, Representatives Shannon Erickson and David Weeks, as well as Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin, Senators Greg Hembree, Brad Hutto and Katrina Shealy, along with many others in both chambers, helped pass a good domestic violence reform bill. While this measure isn’t perfect, it does provide frontline law enforcement and prosecutors with the much-needed tools for combating domestic violence.
“This battle has been about creating a better tomorrow for all South Carolinians. Our laws reflect our values, and until recently, our values were not accurately represented by our laws. This year, South Carolinians said “no more.” We will no longer tolerate being ranked one of the most dangerous states in the nation when it comes to domestic violence.
“While this problem won’t be overcome with legislation alone, South Carolina has taken its first giant in the long journey to changing the culture of violence.”
This is an issue the Attorney General’s Office, prosecutors, law enforcement and victim’s advocates have been working on for years. On Oct. 6, 2015, the Attorney General’s Office, will host the 18th Annual Silent Witness Ceremony on the State House steps. Each year, the ceremony honors those who lost their lives to domestic violence during this previous year.
Wilson stated, “There is no better way to honor those who have lost their lives to this tragic crime than passing meaningful reform that could save others.”
“Hopefully, the number of names read at future ceremonies will be reduced due to these tools and the efforts of those working to change the culture of domestic violence in South Carolina.”
The measure now goes to Governor Haley for her signature.
“On January 13, minutes before the current legislative session began, I stood in the State House lobby with members of the General Assembly, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, victims’ advocates, survivors and other stakeholders. We called on the General Assembly to pass meaningful domestic violence reform this year. Today, that call was answered with the adoption of S. 3.
“I am proud that the General Assembly took a hard stand against this heinous crime this year. The direct, personal involvement of Speaker Jay Lucas, House Judiciary Chairman Greg Delleney, Representatives Shannon Erickson and David Weeks, as well as Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin, Senators Greg Hembree, Brad Hutto and Katrina Shealy, along with many others in both chambers, helped pass a good domestic violence reform bill. While this measure isn’t perfect, it does provide frontline law enforcement and prosecutors with the much-needed tools for combating domestic violence.
“This battle has been about creating a better tomorrow for all South Carolinians. Our laws reflect our values, and until recently, our values were not accurately represented by our laws. This year, South Carolinians said “no more.” We will no longer tolerate being ranked one of the most dangerous states in the nation when it comes to domestic violence.
“While this problem won’t be overcome with legislation alone, South Carolina has taken its first giant in the long journey to changing the culture of violence.”
This is an issue the Attorney General’s Office, prosecutors, law enforcement and victim’s advocates have been working on for years. On Oct. 6, 2015, the Attorney General’s Office, will host the 18th Annual Silent Witness Ceremony on the State House steps. Each year, the ceremony honors those who lost their lives to domestic violence during this previous year.
Wilson stated, “There is no better way to honor those who have lost their lives to this tragic crime than passing meaningful reform that could save others.”
“Hopefully, the number of names read at future ceremonies will be reduced due to these tools and the efforts of those working to change the culture of domestic violence in South Carolina.”
The measure now goes to Governor Haley for her signature.
