Rep. John Graham Altman's intemperate remarks about domestic-violence victims have triggered public condemnation that has been heard around the nation. Ironically, his ill-considered words have virtually assured the bill's passage, and sooner rather than later.

Though criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature (CDVHAN) already is a felony in South Carolina, criminal domestic violence (CDV) that doesn't involve a weapon or serious injury remains a misdemeanor for first, second and third offenses. After the House Judiciary Committee rejected the CDV bill Tuesday while approving legislation making cockfighting a felony, a Columbia television reporter asked Rep. Altman to explain why the panel seemingly considered the latter offense more serious than the former.

Rep. Altman cited problems with the bill that was rejected -- problems that he was not alone in detecting. But his concerns that the bill overreached were drowned out by a warranted outcry when he appeared to blame domestic-violence victims for not fleeing from their abusers. In an interview laced with demeaning comments about the intellect of the female TV reporter, Rep. Altman said: "The woman [who is abused] ought not be around the man. I do not understand why women continue to go back around men who abuse them. And I've asked women that and they all tell me the same answer, 'John Graham, you don't understand.' And I say, 'You're right, I don't understand.' "

Rep. Altman also asked, "What self-respecting person is going back around someone who beats them?"

Certainly Rep. Altman, who added that he didn't intend to blame abused women for their plight, should now understand what a nerve he touched with his insensitive comments. Abused women have numerous reasons for staying with the men who hurt them. Among the obstacles blocking their exits are concerns over money, children and their personal safety. Many women who somehow summon the courage to leave so enrage their abusers that there are deadly consequences.

South Carolina's high domestic-abuse statistics do demand tougher state action against this crime. S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, over the past two years, has enlisted private attorneys who volunteer to prosecute CDV cases, providing more timely legal intervention against domestic abusers in an effort to break the insidious cycle of escalating violence as soon as possible.

After the Altman controversy broke, House Speaker David Wilkins issued a statement that said: "In its present form, the bill has a number of legal and technical problems that would have made it very difficult to pass. We intend to fix those problems." The speaker and Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison also are preparing a bill that would make CDV a felony on the third offense.

The pressure is on to address the problem and the Judiciary Committee will make the bill a priority. That's a good result. Now let's hope the legislators can debate the bills calmly and on their merits.