Lawmakers must listen to victims of violence

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Paul Hyde • Lawmakers must listen to victims of violence (09/18/03) • Sanford should act against violence (07/31/03) • Deficit could cause a calamity (07/17/03) • State's roads are lawless (06/19/03) • Spoleto sticks to its principles (06/05/03) More details Write to Paul Hyde, editorial page associate editor, at phyde@greenvillenews.com.

Williams, the mother of a 2-year-old, was killed by multiple shotgun blasts to her back Sept. 3.

The man accused of the vicious attack at the East North Street Bi-Lo faces the death penalty. If found guilty, he'll receive the state's ultimate punishment.

But the punishment is not enough. Decency demands all of us work to prevent these heinous crimes.

Sadly, the Williams case is all-too common here: South Carolina has the distinction of having one of the highest rates of domestic violence homicide in the nation. In 2000, the state ranked third in the nation.

In 1998, the state was No. 1.

Women are more likely to be killed here — by someone who claims to love them — than anywhere else in the nation.

That's a disgrace.

A total of 36,000 domestic violence cases are reported in the state every year.

South Carolinians should demand that state leaders, at long last, take bold and comprehensive action against this violent plague. The state needs a multiagency plan to combat domestic violence.

There are some signs that Greenville lawmakers, perhaps prompted by the death of Maranda Williams, are ready to listen.

Certainly, victims and victims' advocates are eager to be heard.

At a meeting Wednesday of the Domestic Violence Council of Greenville County, victims' advocates from several local agencies embraced the idea of holding one or more workshops with local state legislators to let them know what the state can do about domestic violence.

Some advocates doubted state leaders would meet with them. But I called Lewis Vaughn, R-Greer, the chairman of the Greenville County Legislative Delegation. He said he'd be happy to try to arrange a special meeting of legislative delegation with victims' advocates.

"I'll be glad to meet with them anytime," he said, "and I think the other delegation members would be, too."

In addition, Gov. Sanford's spokesman said the governor would be interested in trying to schedule a meeting — in Greenville — with local victims' advocates.

Vaughn and Sanford deserve credit for agreeing to listen to victims' advocates. They'll deserve far more credit if they follow up those sessions by acting on the recommendations of advocates.

But listening is a positive first step. I'd like to believe that lawmakers care about this issue. Perhaps they've merely lacked an opportunity to hear the stories of victims and the counsel of advocates. I hope victims' advocates will take Vaughn and Sanford up on their offers to meet.

Victims' advocates are on the front lines of domestic violence, and they keenly understand where the law enforcement, judicial and support systems fail victims. Lawmakers need to understand as well.

A starting point for Sanford and the Legislature should be the 23 recommendations made by the Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence in 2000. The Legislature, for the most part, has sat on those reasonable recommendations for three years. Many of the suggestions were taken from successful policies in other states. A state Commission on Domestic Violence, endorsed by the report, would monitor incidents and make public-policy recommendations. The report also suggest a public education campaign and criminal and domestic violence education for both the judiciary and law enforcement — among other constructive recommendations.

Four victims were present at Wednesday's meeting, and they had harrowing stories to tell. I can't help but feel that if local legislators listen to victims and advocates with open hearts and minds, they won't fail to take meaningful steps next year toward reducing the shameful blight of domestic violence in our state.