Anti-violence bill approved

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An earlier version of the legislation was killed in committee, and state Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, made some insensitive comments that sparked a public furor. "The woman (who is abused) ought not to be around the man," Altman told a WIS-TV reporter after the committee hearing. "I mean, you women want it one way and not another."

He added: "What self-respecting person is going back around someone who beats them?"

Those callous remarks caught national attention and resulted in a remarkable backlash that had state lawmakers scurrying to craft another bill that would toughen penalties for domestic violence. Equally striking, the new bill won the unanimous approval of House lawmakers. It's incumbent upon state senators to approve a similarly strong domestic violence bill.

The bill increases penalties for first and second convictions of domestic violence. It also makes domestic violence a felony for those who have two previous domestic violence convictions. The crime would carry a one- to- five-year sentence, up from the mandatory of three years in prison. In cases of serious injury, the threat of death or the use of weapons, perpetrators already can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Victims and victim advocates have long felt ignored by lawmakers in a state with one of the highest rates of domestic violence homicide in the nation. But the approval of the domestic violence bill suggests two very positive things: victim advocates are finding a stronger and more unified voice, and legislators are listening more intently.

Lawmakers could do a lot more, of course. Former Gov. Jim Hodges in the year 2000 created a domestic violence task force that made 23 recommendations in a 110-page report. Hodges and the Legislature promptly allowed the report to gather dust, as have Gov. Mark Sanford and the current Legislature.

That report should be given new consideration. Many of the suggestions were taken from policies that have been successful in other states. Among the recommendations is to establish a state Commission on Domestic Violence that would monitor the problem and make public policy recommendations. The report endorses a public education campaign and criminal domestic violence education for both the judiciary and law enforcement.

The action this year on combating domestic violence has been heartening. State senators must follow the House's lead, and there's much more work to be done after that.