Domestic violence

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But the fall from No. 1 to No. 6 offers no comfort. In actual numbers, 36 South Carolina women last year were killed as the result of domestic violence, six more than during the year before.

The number of domestic violence incidents — non-fatalities — reported has been as high as 35,000 in 2001. That shameful indictment of our state should provoke state leaders to create more comprehensive strategies for combating domestic violence. Too often when the state has done anything at all, efforts have been piecemeal. What's needed is a multi-agency strategy geared toward both prevention of violence and punishment of offenders.

It's past time for state lawmakers to listen to victims' advocates. Gov. Mark Sanford and lawmakers should adopt the 23 recommendations made in a 110-page report by the Governor's Domestic Task Force in 2000. Many of the suggestions were taken from policies that have been successful in other states. Those recommendations include creating a state domestic violence commission as well as education programs in schools and for law enforcement and the judiciary.

Domestic violence remains one of South Carolina's most disgraceful problems, and fighting it should be a top priority for Sanford and state lawmakers.