Tougher laws on violence

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The public backlash reflected the pent-up anger of violence victims who have felt that a good-ol'-boy Legislature didn't take domestic violence seriously. South Carolina has one of the nation's highest rates of domestic violence homicide. Victims were justifiably outraged after Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, appeared to blame domestic victims themselves in some insensitive public comments. Lawmakers in a committee meeting considering domestic violence also were heard to make offensive remarks about this most troubling issue in South Carolina.

Sanford, for his part, had a lot to prove on this issue as well. In the 2002 election, Sanford was criticized by then-Gov. Jim Hodges for having opposed federal initiatives to reduce violence against women during Sanford's tenure as a congressman. Sanford was the only congressman of 373 House lawmakers to oppose the Violence Against Women Act in 2000, according to an Oct. 7, 2000, Associated Press story.

As governor, Sanford has improved upon that record. In 2003, Sanford signed a bill that increased penalties for the most violent domestic offenses. Today, Sanford is signing a bill that would add more jail time and fines for less-severe first and second convictions of criminal domestic violence.

The bill recently approved by the Legislature increases the minimum fine for a first conviction of domestic violence to $1,000, up from $500, or 30 days in jail. That can be suspended if the person receives counseling.

The bill also increases penalties for second convictions to 30 days to one year in jail and up to $5,000 in fines. That compares with the current penalty of either 30 days in jail or a $500 fine.

Sanford deserves some credit for signing the bills, although they were legislative initiatives and not a part of the governor's top priorities. The governor's leadership certainly is needed on this issue. A hope is that Sanford still might champion some of the 23 recommendations in a 110-page report issued by a state domestic violence task force in 2000.

South Carolina is making slow progress on combating domestic violence. Stronger gubernatorial and legislative leadership could move that process forward and save more women and children from harm.