(Columbia) - A bill designed to protect women from criminal domestic violence was tabled by the House Judiciary Committee this week.

Charleston Representative John Graham Altman, who opposed the bill, told News19 that committee members couldn't pass legislation that deals with just one gender.

But those pushing for the bill, like the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, says it is much needed legislation.

"We need effective legislation in South Carolina to deal with this," says Vicki Bourus with SCCADVASA. "This bill contained some of the most in my opinion, methods to address this problem that we've ever had in the state."

Though the bill has been tabled, we're told it could possibly come up again this year.