South Carolina, a deadly place for women in abusive relationships, should emulate North Carolina, where new domestic violence rules take effect Dec. 1. After that time, persons under court order to stay away from persons they've beaten repeatedly will be barred from buying or owning guns. Persons convicted of misdemeanor stalking and sentenced to community punishment will be placed on supervised probation. And persons who have been beaten will be able to renew protective orders against their abusers multiple times, upon show of good cause.

Such restrictions would be an extraordinary step for South Carolina, especially the gun rule. But that was true in North Carolina, too, until legislators figured out only harsh steps could hope to stop chronic abusers from maiming and murdering their wives or girlfriends. Such thugs are not reachable by sweet reason. Isn't it time S.C. legislators figured that out, too?